Matthew Closter, NSF INCLUDES Coordination Hub
The theme was “Mobilizing to Transform Systems” as over 200 participants representing projects from across the country focused on broadening participation in STEM education and careers came together virtually for three days in August to share their work, connect to others, learn and share new skills, and collectively strengthen the NSF INCLUDES National Network. The 2021 convening marked three years of the NSF INCLUDES initiative, which is one of NSF’s Big Ideas for 2026.
The convening featured inspiring talks from government, civic, and student leaders and innovators; breakout sessions to share successes, challenges, and best practices; and the opportunity for participants to network with each other, NSF representatives, representatives of federal agencies and industry.
Co-planned with the Network, the convening centered the shared goals of building the capacity of members, strengthening the National Network, and sustaining and growing the movement to broaden participation in STEM education and careers through disrupting inequitable systems and inspiring positive systems change.
“The NSF INCLUDES National Network Convening celebrated our community of educators and students from a wide range of efforts that focus on broadening participation in STEM. I am so impressed with how our INCLUDES members collaborate with a shared vision and dedicated purpose toward greater STEM representation and equity.” -- Andrea Venezia, NSF INCLUDES Coordination Hub Director
Chike Aguh, Chief Innovation Officer, United States Department of Labor, provided the keynote for the convening. His galvanizing talk, Technology for Equity, Equity for Technology, tackled what he called “the five big questions” of about the future of work in America.
The convening’s exciting plenary sessions included from Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director, National Science foundation, an inspiring talk on data-driven disruption from Jennifer Blatz, President and CEO of Strive Together, and engaging panels that centered student voices, provided an overview of NSF INCLUDES’ new Shared Measures platform, highlighted federal agency and industry partners, and explored effective collaboration, communications, and partnerships (membership required to access).
All resources from the convening, including videos, slides, and transcripts, are available to the members of NSF INCLUDES here (must be logged in to access). Not a member? Any individual engaged in broadening participation activities can join the online community – read more here.
Together participants actively built community and influenced the path of the next stage of the NSF INCLUDES initiative. Post-convening survey results showed as a result of the convening, participants were inspired to further contribute to the National Network and take action toward their broadening goals. They also indicated that the convening helped them more clearly visualize their work as part of a bigger whole, and the value in collaborating with other network members.