This three-year National Science Foundation funded project will test a model of community engagement in STEM learning through the design and implementation of a high school level career and technical education (CTE) bioscience course. This course engages students in an authentic problem, the spread of infectious disease (specifically influenza). The course will integrate the study of relevant bioscience topics and epidemiological principles with the technological project of designing and implementing a data collection system using computer and geospatial technologies software in order to monitor the transmission of influenza.

We believe the iCREATE project will ensure a high-quality STEM workforce for Flagstaff and Northern Arizona by:

• increasing student awareness of career opportunities in STEM and cognate fields at all levels (technicians, scientists, engineers, etc.);

• motivating students to pursue appropriate educational pathways to STEM-related careers; and

• providing a technology-rich experience that develops disciplinary knowledge, practices, and non-cognitive skills needed for STEM fields.

Read more about this project in this NAU News article.