Organizer Information
Polar STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) is a major national initiative funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and managed by Oregon State University. The program enriches climate, environmental, and polar science education by facilitating immersive partnerships between educators and active polar researchers, translating complex scientific datasets into accessible community curricula.
Title & Description
Polar STEAM Educator Fellowship (2027/28 Cycle).
This nationwide program recruits a diverse annual cohort of educators to collaborate directly with NSF-funded polar scientists. Designed to bring the critical environments of the polar regions closer to classrooms and communities, the program offers both field-embedded and virtual collaboration frameworks.
Available Program Formats:
- Arctic Field Research (Boreal Summer 2027): Land or ship-based field expeditions typically running from April through September. Placements average 1–4 weeks, with the majority of deployments occurring in June, July, and August.
- Antarctic Field Research (Austral Summer 2027/28): Intensive field deployments to the southern polar continent or research vessels. Placements typically last 6–8 weeks and occur between October 2027 and February 2028.
- Virtual Collaborations (Full Year 2027): A remote, structural pathway running from February to December 2027. Fellows participate in monthly digital meetings with researchers utilizing polar datasets. This track is ideal for those focused on bringing Antarctic science to their students without traveling, and it may include sponsored university lab visits or conference travel.
Categories
All Discipline (Educators across all teaching subject areas including Science, Math, Art, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Technology) and Science Communication.
Eligibility
- General Status: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents and at least 21 years of age at the time of submission.
- Professional Mandate: Open to active Grade 6–12 classroom teachers, faculty from community colleges, professors at Primarily Undergraduate Serving Institutions (PUI), and informal educators (working in museums, zoos, science centers, or libraries) who can structurally incorporate polar science into their programming.
- Contract Requirement: Educators must be currently working with a defined group of learners and hold a valid contract for the 2026/27 school year.
Program Benefits and Awards
- Fully Funded Field Logistics: The program covers all round-trip travel costs to polar field sites, specialized extreme-cold weather gear, and operational transit.
- Financial Stipends: Selected Educator Fellows receive funding stipends to support their curriculum design and cohort participation.
- Professional Cohort: Structural integration into a nationwide peer network of polar researchers, educators, and creative practitioners.
Fees
- Application Fee: None (Free to submit).
Application Requirements (InfoReady Portal)
Applications must be logged digitally through the university's InfoReady database system. The questionnaire sections encompass:
- Professional Metrics: Profile details, employment setting, subject area, and years of educational experience.
- Institutional Demographics: School dataset metrics, including the exact percentage of learners qualifying for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch (FRPL), Pell Grants, or direct certification programs (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid).
- Field Condition Metrics: Self-rated comfort scores regarding remote field living (dorms, ship bunks, or backcountry camping), rigorous off-trail hiking, and extreme polar temperatures.
- Narrative Statements (750–1,500 characters max per prompt): Personal-professional introduction, a statement of motivation, an explanation of cross-disciplinary collaboration skills, and a concrete example of a creative lesson or curriculum unit you have developed.
- Administrative Assets: A professional resume (Strictly capped at a maximum of 4 pages) and contact coordinates for a direct supervisor and three professional references.
How to Apply?
Create a profile account and complete the specific educator questionnaire layout on the InfoReady application node. Apply to the Polar STEAM Educator Track.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 12:00 PM (Noon) Pacific Time. Late or incomplete profiles will not be reviewed by the InfoReady system.
- Program Term: Spans the full 2027 calendar year (and into early 2028 for Antarctic field deployments).
Location
United States (Oregon State University administrative base) / Field Placements across the Arctic and Antarctic regions.
Additional Details
Educators choosing the 6–8 week Antarctic field deployment will be traveling during the active North American school year. Applicants must consult with their institutional supervisors prior to lock-up to ensure their school district will fully support an extended leave of absence. For programmatic or technical questions, contact polarsteam@oregonstate.edu.