Addressing Equity and Inclusion in Informal STEM Institutions: The iPAGE Leadership Program

NSF Award Information

In 2020, the Science Museum of Minnesota was awarded a $3 million grant over 4 years from NSF for iPAGE 2.0: Understanding and Supporting Transformative Change Toward Equity in the ISE Sector. The overarching goal of iPAGE is to support transformative change toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) in the Informal STEM Education (ISE) sector through an extension service model of knowledge-to-action diffusion coupled with a robust research and evaluation effort.

A key challenge in supporting this transformation is the preparation of change agents within the ISE sector who are capable of navigating their organizations as they are while at the same time challenging and dismantling destructive uses of power and privilege that create or perpetuate inequity and injustice.

iPAGE 2.0 builds on previous awards from NSF in both the ISE and K-12 Education sectors. SMM’s IDEAL Center leads the effort with Director Liesl Chatman serving as Principal Investigator. Co-PI Cecilia Garibay will lead the research effort, and Nora Murphy Johnson and Andrew Johnson of Inspire-to-Change will lead the evaluation effort.

Why is iPAGE important? The informal science education (ISE) sector has an important role to play in addressing current societal issues, including changes in global environmental conditions, societal responses to pandemics and natural and manmade disasters, and systemic injustice. These complex social problems require engaging all sectors of our society in deep discussions about science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) that center inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA). To do this, ISE professionals need profound support in how to bring in diverse perspectives, support inclusive learning, and provide equitable access to institutional policies, practices, and systems. People from different backgrounds within informal science institutions (ISIs) and local communities bring new perspectives, identify new needs, and foster innovation. This broadening of perspectives is critical to address the complex social problems of the 21st century. A key part of the needed transformations in informal science institutions is the development of change agents within the ISE sector who are capable of reimagining what equitable and just informal science institutions might look like and prepared to then work collaboratively towards that vision.

How is iPAGE structured? iPAGE’s primary audience is ISE professionals, and the secondary audience is researchers and evaluators working within the ISE sector. iPAGE is projected to work directly with an estimated 122 individuals from 27 ISIs. iPAGE is based on an extension service model of knowledge diffusion which brings together teams of strategically placed individuals within ISIs and prepares them to work with their colleagues in non-linear and emergent ways to enact significant social change. This project is funded by the AISL program, which seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants.

What are the knowledge-building goals of iPAGE 2.0? iPAGE 2.0 will use a systemic approach to develop and extend understanding of: (1) how structural inequalities function to reproduce social advantage and disadvantage within ISIs and the ISE sector; (2) the barriers, supports, and transmission vectors that contribute to or inhibit a continued shift in the sector toward IDEA in an ecosystem of practitioners, organizations, evaluation, and research; and (3) how to prepare and support change agents for IDEA within this ecosystem. A central objective of iPAGE 2.0 is to bring about an epistemological alignment of research, evaluation, and professional development projects through (a) consistent application of systems thinking and principles of adaptive change and (b) recognition that a critical examination of the Nature and Culture of STEM is an essential part of realizing IDEA within the ISE sector.

What methods will the research and evaluation effort use? The project will employ a creative evaluation approach that combines developmental, principles-focused, arts-based, and transformative evaluation to capture emergent, disruptive, and subtle phenomena. An interactive convergent parallel mixed-methods study design grounded in culturally responsive research methodologies will be used to address central questions concerning individual, organizational, and sector change toward IDEA and STEM.

Audience

iPAGE applicants are selected to form annual cohorts of 24 individuals comprising six to eight ISI-based change agent teams. Teams are limited to no more than four individuals. Within each cohort, we work to include teams that represent a wide range of ISIs (size, rural/urban, audiences served, etc.).

Individual team members should (1) have a passion for addressing critical issues of equity and inclusion within their institutions, and (2) have the potential to use their social influence and/or connections to influence their colleagues and effect change within their institutions. Within these criteria, participants have represented a range of professional backgrounds: CEOs, vice presidents, security, managers, exhibit fabricators, HR, and education, to name a few.

Note: If you would like professional development for a group larger than four, contact us at iPAGE@smm.org to learn more about customized professional development for your institution.

Team Roles

Teams are composed of two to four individuals—including an Executive Sponsor and Team Captain. The charge for the entire team is to work together to collectively serve as leaders, connectors, and role models for supporting institutional change.

The Executive Sponsor is the ISI senior executive (CEO, President, or equivalent title), or a direct report to this individual. Note that teams with the senior executive as Executive Sponsor will have a competitive advantage in the application review. If the team’s Executive Sponsor is not the institution’s senior executive, the team narrative should include a justification. The Executive Sponsor is responsible for having an overall understanding of the effort, making sure that team members have the time to devote to iPAGE, and ensuring that barriers are reduced for the iPAGE team to do site-based work. The Executive Sponsor, along with the Captain and all other team members, is required to attend the full institute and all three colloquia.

Team Captains must have direct access to the Executive Sponsor and other team members. They will serve as the principal point of contact between the team and IDEAL Center for general issues and questions.

Teams can have up to two additional Team Members. Team Members can be from any level of the organization and should represent a variety of departments. Possibilities include exhibits, public programs, outreach, professional development, visitor services, human resources, community engagement, research and evaluation, volunteer programs, docent and youth programs, development, finance, etc. 

Program Structure

Foundations Program: The iPAGE program provides 11 days (approximately 70 hours) of professional development, spanning a seven-month period beginning in the fall of each program year. The formal events each year include:

iPAGE Institute • September 18-22, 2023 • Online via Zoom
The iPAGE Institute begins to build a conceptual background, attitudes, and skills that are required for tackling equity and inclusion issues within organizations.

Colloquia I, II, and III • November 16-17, 2023; January 25-26, 2024; March 21-22, 2024 • In person at the Science Museum of Minnesota
During the Colloquia, change agents will shift from a focus on their own understanding of inclusion issues in informal science institutions (ISIs), to applying their understanding, and continually building their skills within their own sites with their colleagues. During this phase, change agents work explicitly to improve their own efficacy, both in articulating the meaning and value of improving the equity and inclusion climate within their ISIs, and in adapting knowledge, norms, and practices for their own contexts. 

Attendance at all 11 program days is essential. Please be sure your entire team can attend all program events before applying.

All program days will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST.

Note: We're planning a hybrid model for the coming year: the Institute will take place online, and the Colloquia will be in person at the Science Museum of Minnesota in downtown St. Paul. We think this is the best path forward and minimizes the programmatic and personal risk of bringing folks together in person while supporting the informal community building that is so challenging in a completely online environment. 

Dates and program format (e.g. virtual or in person) are subject to change as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve.

Program Support for Teams

Between iPAGE events, change agents work with their colleagues on equity and inclusion issues particular to their sites. The iPAGE facilitation team can provide informal advising focused on change agents’ context-specific needs and challenges. This relationship with participants extends throughout the life of the grant. Change agents will engage in iterative cycles of systematic and self-critical planning, acting, observing, and reflecting, all within the supportive context of the iPAGE community.

Eligibility

The informal STEM institution in the application must be based in the United States.

Eligible institutions include museums, science centers, aquariums, zoos, botanical gardens, folk schools, etc.

Teams can be no larger than four people and must include an Executive Sponsor and a Team Captain as described above.

In order to participate in iPAGE, individuals must also participate in the associated research study.

Team Selection

The application process is competitive.

Competitive teams will have an appropriately identified Executive Sponsor and a carefully chosen team that can effect change in their institutions through formal or informal means.

Highly competitive teams will also span a variety of positions and departments, and, to the extent possible, represent the cultural, racial, and economic diversity of their surrounding community.

Due to the research component of iPAGE, selection will also take into account institution size, geography, audiences served, etc.

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2023-2024 iPAGE Foundations Program are due May 8, 2023.

Next Steps for New institutions

Step 1:
Recruit your team of two to four individuals — including an Executive Sponsor and Team Captain — and confirm their ability to participate in the required program events (see “Team Roles” description above).

Step 2:
Consider attending an iPAGE informational session.

• Friday, March 24, 2023, 1-2 p.m. CST

• Thursday March 30, 2023, 11 a.m.-noon CST

• Thursday April 6, 2023, 3-4 p.m. CST

Sign up here to attend a session.

Step 3:
Collectively compose a Team Narrative (suggested length: approximately 1500-word maximum). In your narrative, provide the following information and perspectives. Please begin your narrative with the first bullet point and end your narrative with the last bullet point. In between these opening and closing paragraphs, the sequence is up to you. You may be able to address more than one bullet point within the same story, example, or description.

• Briefly describe why now is the time for your team and institution to participate in iPAGE. Please start your narrative with this prompt; note the last prompt will let you be more specific.

• Describe current equity and inclusion assets and possibilities in your informal science institution (ISI) and the communities you serve or seek to serve.

• Describe current equity and inclusion challenges within your ISI. Discuss how they relate to the communities you serve or seek to serve.

• Describe efforts at various levels that have or are currently happening (if any) at your ISI with respect to IDEA. Discuss how your team and institution would like to see these grow or evolve.

• Describe why each member of your team was chosen to participate and how you will work with one another in doing IDEA-centered change agent work in your ISI.

• Describe how you believe your Institution’s participation in this cohort, at this point in time, with this team, will help you address these challenges and/or take advantage of possibilities as you’ve described them. Please end your narrative with this prompt.

Step 4:
Each team member will need to compose an Individual Narrative (suggested length: 750-1000 words). Please provide the following information and perspectives in your individual narrative. Note that the sequence is up to you and that you may be able to address more than one bullet point within the same story, example, or description.

• What is your personal sphere of influence at your ISI? What groups do you belong to — formally or informally — with whom you can do IDEA-centered change agent work at your ISI? Who are your people? Who are your peers and colleagues? 

• Identify and describe current equity and inclusion assets and possibilities within your personal sphere of influence at your ISI and communities you serve or seek to serve.

• Describe current equity and inclusion challenges and barriers within your personal sphere of influence at your ISI and communities you serve or seek to serve.

• Describe how your participation on your iPAGE team could potentially amplify your sphere of influence or address challenges in meaningful ways.

• Change is a social process. Describe a time you learned something new and worked to spread the idea/practice to others. What did you learn about yourself and others in the process? Tell a short story.

• Within your personal sphere of influence, what would meaningful progress in supporting diversity, promoting inclusion, increasing access, and achieving equity at your ISI look, feel, sound like? How would you know you’re making meaningful progress towards lasting change? 
  

Step 5: 
Complete institutional information and approvals.

Step 6:
Submit one application for your entire team, including the team narrative and all individual narratives, by May 8, 2023.

The online application for NEW institutions can be found at:https://forms.gle/PSJst382ioKBYDo88

Next Steps for RETURNING  Institutions

Step 1:
Identify one to four individuals to add to your iPAGE team and confirm their ability to participate in the required program events (see “Team Roles” description above).

Confirm that your Executive Sponsor and Captain are still in place. They do not need to submit a narrative unless they are new, and if they are new, they will need to attend the program.

Note: This is an application for new team members to go through the 11-day Foundations Program (Institute, C1, C2, and C3). This is NOT an application for a Veterans program.

Step 2:
Consider attending an iPAGE informational session.

• Friday, March 24, 2023, 1-2 p.m. CST

• Thursday March 30, 2023, 11 a.m.-noon CST

• Thursday April 6, 2023, 3-4 p.m. CST

Sign up here to attend a session.

Step 3:
Collectively compose a Team Narrative (suggested length: approximately 1500-word maximum). In your narrative, provide the following information and perspectives. Please begin your narrative with the first bullet point and end your narrative with the last bullet point. In between these opening and closing paragraphs, the sequence is up to you. You may be able to address more than one bullet point within the same story, example, or description.

• Describe the ways in which iPAGE has or has not had an impact. Discuss various levels (e.g. individual, interpersonal, institutional, societal-cultural) as you consider where you have struggled and where you have had success.

• Describe efforts at various levels that have or are currently happening at your informal science institution (ISI) with respect to IDEA. Discuss how your team, and institution, would like to see these grow or evolve.

• Describe current equity and inclusion assets and possibilities in your ISI and the communities you serve or seek to serve.

• Describe current equity and inclusion challenges and barriers within your ISI. How do they relate to the communities you serve or seek to serve?

• List members of your iPAGE team to date (iPAGE veterans), including changes to titles, departments, etc. (including whether they are still with your ISI or not).

• Describe why your ISI is applying for additional team member(s) to attend iPAGE.

• Describe specifically why you are proposing this individual/these individuals to add to your team, and how you will work with one another in doing IDEA-centered change agent work in your ISI.

• Describe how this team expansion helps you build on the work your team has done to date and addresses your needs in new ways. Specifically, how will this additional team member(s), at this point in time, with your existing team, help you address the challenges you’ve described and/or take advantage of possibilities as you’ve described them. Please end your narrative with this prompt.

Step 4:
Each team member will need to compose an Individual Narrative (suggested length: 750-1000 words). Please provide the following information and perspectives in your individual narrative. Note that the sequence is up to you and that you may be able to address more than one bullet point within the same story, example, or description.

• What is your personal sphere of influence at your ISI? What groups do you belong to — formally or informally — with whom you can do IDEA-centered change agent work at your ISI? Who are your people? Who are your peers and colleagues? 

• Identify and describe current equity and inclusion assets and possibilities within your personal sphere of influence at your ISI and communities you serve or seek to serve.

• Describe current equity and inclusion challenges and barriers within your personal sphere of influence at your ISI and communities you serve or seek to serve.

• Describe how your participation on your iPAGE team could potentially amplify your sphere of influence or address challenges in meaningful ways.

• Change is a social process. Describe a time you learned something new and worked to spread the idea/practice to others. What did you learn about yourself and others in the process? Tell a short story.

• Within your personal sphere of influence, what would meaningful progress in supporting diversity, promoting inclusion, increasing access, and achieving equity at your ISI look, feel, sound like? How would you know you’re making meaningful progress towards lasting change? 

• Describe how you are currently connected to your ISI’s iPAGE team.

Step 5: 
Complete institutional information and approvals.

Step 6:
Submit one application for your entire team, including the team narrative and all individual narratives, by May 8, 2023.

The online application for RETURNING institutions can be found at: https://forms.gle/zYDyZJV2PCepJzAFA