Ann Arbor Times

The Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition (SEMIS) at Eastern Michigan University has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Bosch Community Fund. The funding will support the Coalition’s mission to broaden the reach of Eco-STEM place-based learning, engaging more students and educators in the region with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education to improve local environmental conditions and practices.

The grant, known as the Eco-STEM Action in Place-Based Learning through Coalition Building and Partnerships, will allow SEMIS to enhance its offerings in communities including Plymouth Canton, Belleville, and Dearborn. The initiative aims to strengthen teacher and school partnerships while providing students invaluable exposure to STEM professionals to address current environmental challenges.

“The funding provided by the Eco-STEM Action in Place-Based Learning through Coalition Building and Partnerships grant through the Bosch Community Fund will strengthen a STEM career pipeline, especially for underrepresented youth and teachers, by providing early exposure to and engagement with STEM fields and careers through Eco-STEM education,” said Anna Balzer, director of Southeast Michigan Stewardship Coalition.

For more than 15 years, the Coalition has demonstrated the effectiveness of Eco-STEM learning through coalition building between teachers, students, and community partners. Participation in the SEMIS Coalition offers continuous support for educators and opportunities for students to collaborate on civic science projects in their schools and communities.

With the new funding, SEMIS plans to host various educational events over the 2024-2025 school year. These include a one-day introduction to place-based education course and youth spaces where students can share their Eco-STEM projects with peers and a broader audience. Additionally, networking events will introduce a new mini-grant process for partnerships between classrooms and community partners.

“The SEMIS Coalition is thrilled to receive this generous support from the Bosch Community Fund, which is critical in helping scale access to the Coalition’s network and educational resources for more teachers and students, especially those who face financial or other barriers to participation,” said Balzer.

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University currently serves more than 13,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist doctoral degrees across various disciplines. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence in applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University or recent updates on university news visit EMU Today.