Elevating scientific training by building a Research Alliance for Inclusive STEM Education (RAISE)

Area of Science:

• STEM Education
• Scientific Workforce Development
• Research Training

Background:

• Early identification and nurturing of student scientific talent are vital for innovation and economic growth.
• Existing pre-college and undergraduate research programs often have limited scope and duration, hindering sustained student engagement.
• Challenges in accessing STEM education and research training need to be addressed to build a robust scientific workforce.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review challenges in STEM education and research training access.
• To propose the Research Alliance for Inclusive STEM Education (RAISE) program as a solution.
• To outline the implementation of a continuous, collaborative research training pathway.

Main Methods:

• Review of challenges in STEM education and research training.
• Proposal and conceptualization of the RAISE program model.
• Outlining a multi-stage, continuous research training pathway integrated with discovery-driven projects.

Main Results:

• RAISE integrates research and education, increasing access for diverse high school and undergraduate students.
• The proposed RAISE pathway enables continuous skill development through a unified, multiyear research project.
• This model addresses limitations of existing programs by offering sustained engagement opportunities.

Conclusions:

• The RAISE program offers a scalable model for inclusive STEM education and research training.
• Implementing RAISE programs can help resolve issues in scientific training and foster a prepared scientific workforce.
• A call to action is issued for the development, funding, and support of RAISE initiatives.