Welcome
For years, science and engineering educators, social scientists, industry leaders and policymakers in Massachusetts have struggled to expand and diversify the STEM workforce, each coming at the problem from different disciplinary and institutional perspectives with little coordination.
With a grant from the National Science Foundation, we are bringing together leaders across the Commonwealth to break down these silos and build a multi-institutional partnership.
Who are we?
We are the Institute of Diversity Sciences Research-Practitioner Network. We include Researchers, Educators, Business Leaders and Students (REBLS Network)
To find solutions for students, higher education, and the workforce alike, our research-practice partnership is connecting:
- educators who teach computer science and engineering with social scientists who research solutions to the barriers facing students
- students with researchers, educators, and business leaders, to advise and provide feedback on proposed solutions to barriers facing students
- education staff at high schools, community colleges, and 4-year institutions who provide out-of-class support with outreach organizations offering out-of-school learning opportunities
- industry partners who hire and develop talent in technology and engineering with educators at high schools and colleges
- students with professionals in industry and academia, to get career advice navigating obstacles and to develop ideas for independent projects, master’s theses or dissertations
Since our first year, we have tripled our membership to include 235 members from over 90 organizations. Learn more about us.
Contact us if you would like to join!
Focus areas
- Identifying effective solutions that help students thrive as they transition from high school to higher education in technology or engineering, or from higher education to the workforce in these fields
- Replicating and scaling successful solutions across institutions
- Facilitating new collaborations between practitioners and researchers that tackle knowledge gaps in computer science and engineering education, outreach, and workforce development
Already, our network has spurred 9 working groups, which you can read about below!
Our hope is that this state-wide network project will serve as a model for states across the nation. Our goal is to create an open and vibrant network that brings us out of our silos.
