Mission
We are transforming STEM education by training educators in evidence-based scientific
teaching strategies. At their core are the principles of anti-racism, justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity.
Our in-person and online trainings and meetings have resulted in documented increases in STEM persistence and retention. Our training sessions are attended by more than 2,000 faculty from 250 educational institutions across the US and abroad.
Join our community to improve STEM teaching and better support the learning of our next generation of scientists and citizens.
Read our bylaws.
Goals • Impact • Philosophy • History
Goals
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Engage faculty from across the US and abroad in discussions of Scientific Teaching
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Apply NIST methods to faculty work in education to systematically change the status quo of large lecture, didactic, science education.
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Grow and maintain our professional network, with opportunities for sustained engagement and documented pathways for professional growth and development.
Impact
Over 350 colleges and universities from across the United States and abroad have sent over 2,000 faculty and future faculty to a total of 56 Institutes. The majority of surveyed program alumni report that the Institute training helped them increase their use of scientific teaching practices. Data indicates increased student engagement and intent to persist in science when faculty trained in scientific teaching implement at high levels. NIST/Summer Institutes programs are often referenced in the literature as making a significant impact on STEM education in the United States.
Philosophy
We draw scientific teaching principles from models supported by peer-reviewed research and support participants. These principles are designed to be implemented in classrooms and course development. The curriculum includes core elements of active learning strategies, effective assessment development, and inclusive teaching practices. Institute alumni actively transform STEM education on their home campuses, contribute to national STEM education initiatives, and share their evidence-based teaching practices and research through peer-reviewed publications.​
History
2025: First national meeting of NIST will take place. Planning is in process!
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2020: NIST became an independent nonprofit organization and greatly expanded its virtual
footprint.
2014: Mobile Summer Institutes began. They were designed to draw participants from the same department or institution for training in evidence-based teaching, peer evaluation and facilitated strategic planning.
2012: Multiple regional Summer Institutes were established with support from the National
Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and
Helmsley Charitable Trust.
2004: Professors Jo Handelsman and Bill Wood launched the initiative that would later become NIST, inspired in part by the 2003 National Research Council Report Bio2010: Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Research Biologists. The “Summer Institute” began as an intensive series of multi-day workshops at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.