Volume 5, Issue 5

May 2026

What's New in STEM Education Research

Building Biomimetic Robots in Middle School by Aligning STEM Practices

Explore how middle school students design and build biomimetic robots inspired by animal adaptations, using computational thinking and modeling to connect biology concepts with engineering design in integrated STEM learning environments.

Authors: Debra Bernstein and Gillian Puttick

Explore the full paper ➡️

Codesign for Neuroinclusive Learning: New Journal Collection Led by TERC’s Ibrahim Dahlstrom-Hakki

This Cogent Education collection invites contributions on participatory approaches that engage neurodivergent learners as co-designers across K–12, higher education, and informal learning settings.

Learn more about the call for papers ➡️

Upcoming Opportunities

New REVISE Sessions Announced: Building Data Literacy Through Hands-On Activities

REVISE is launching a two-part series exploring how informal STEM education researchers and practitioners are bringing data literacy to life through engaging, hands-on experiences.

Part 1 (May 7, 2026) features two AISL-funded projects focused on co-design and interactive data visualizations, highlighting how youth and the public engage with real-world data and develop critical data practices.

Part 2 (May 18, 2026) spotlights the Mathematizing, Visualizing, and Power (MVP) project, where youth become “data artists,” using creative, community-centered approaches to explore and communicate data.

Across both sessions, presenters will share emerging insights into how learners interpret, question, and use data in meaningful ways.

Learn more and register ➡️