MSU receives $600K grant to train area STEM educators

Missouri State University plans to boost STEM education in the Ozarks through a $600,000 federal grant.

The university was awarded the grant from the National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education in nonmedical fields of science and engineering. MSU intends to use the grant funding to launch the Computer Science Research Opportunity for Smart Environments program, dubbed ROSE, according to a news release.

Funds will be utilized over the next three years for ROSE, through which MSU computer science faculty will offer a summer research experience for middle and high school educators throughout southwest Missouri. The summer workshops, hosted by the university’s College of Natural and Applied Sciences and College of Education, will be provided for a total of 30 teachers – 10 per year – on campus.

The workshops will involve research activities covering artificial intelligence, audio-video processing, computer security, internet of things technology and machine learning.

“The educators will enhance their scientific disciplinary knowledge in computer science and translate their research experiences into classroom activities and curricula,” said Razib Iqbal, MSU associate professor of computer science, in the release. “They will then be able to broaden their students’ awareness of and participation in computing engineering pathways.”

The release didn’t reveal how many applicants were awarded grants, but the NSF website notes roughly nine awards are distributed annually nationwide through its Research Experiences for Teachers in Engineering and Computer Science program. Iqbal said $600,000 is the maximum total request for applicants.

MSU is accepting applications via its website for ROSE’s first summer cohort, scheduled June 12-July 21. The application deadline is April 28.