NSF archives AISL and introduces new STEM K-12 funding program

What’s new: The National Science Foundation has archived its long-running Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program, which was a major source of funding for informal science, science communication, citizen science, public engagement with science, and others. In its place comes the new STEM K-12 program, which merges AISL with Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12), Computer Science for All (CSforAll), and Translation & Diffusion (TD).

STEM K-12 Program: As of this writing, the program website (NSF 25-545) states that it supports research and development across theory and practice, with eligible projects ranging from ‘advancing STEM learning and design-based improvements to curricula and environments, to building workforce pathways in computer science and AI, developing innovations such as curricula, assessments, professional learning resources, technologies, and media, investigating learning processes, applying advanced methods like data science, and promoting deeper, more effective teaching.’

Food for thought

• Tracks: AISL had five distinct project types: synthesis, conference, partnership development and planning, integrating research and practice, and research in support of wide-reaching public engagement (explore our 2022 analysis). STEM K-12 compresses everything into two categories: Research/Development ($350k–$750k) and Conferences ($25k–$99k).
• Smaller budgets: The four prior programs together represented about $62–75 million annually, according to their most recent archived NSF solicitations. STEM K-12 is operating at about half that size, meaning fewer resources overall, and lower ceiling amounts available per grant (estimated number of awards is 40), and more competition from applicants who previously applied to DRK-12, CSforAll, and TD programs.
• Evaluation: AISL basically required external evaluation. In STEM K-12, evaluation follows the NSF PAPPG 24-1, which still requires plans but lets proposers essentially decide the approach, likely reflecting the smaller budgets.
• Rolling submissions: Proposals can be submitted year-round, replacing AISL’s fixed deadlines. I think this is a great feature add-on.

Between the lines

With no dedicated tracks to guide proposals, the smart move now is to reach out to program officers early. This is what program officers mentioned during the Sept 2025 webinar (see below) that they hosted. Essentially, applicants are encouraged to submit short concept papers (1 page max) to engage the NSF and get input as early as possible. Concept papers can be emailed to STEMK12@nsf.gov and should include a project overview as well as sections on intellectual merit and broader impacts.

Zooming out: The archiving of the AISL program is significant for the broader informal science engagement community and one that provides a defined time point for analysis over the next several years. One of the most important questions to address is the breakdown of the types of projects that will ultimately be funded in this new paradigm. The ability to answer part of that question will be in effectively categorizing the awarded grants to track where the investments are going, and, in turn, see any gaps that emerge.

Fanuel Muindi

Fanuel Muindi is a former neuroscientist turned civic science ethnographer. He is a professor of the practice in the Department of Communication Studies within the College of Arts, Media, and Design at Northeastern University, where he leads the Civic Science Media Lab. Dr. Muindi received his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and PhD in Organismal Biology from Morehouse College and Stanford University, respectively. He completed his postdoctoral training at MIT.