Station1 Receives $400,000 Grant from The ECMC Foundation for Socially Transformative Science and Technology Learning
November 10, 2021
ECMC Foundation, based in Los Angeles, California has awarded a $400,000 grant to Station1 — a leading national nonprofit higher education institution, founded by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2016 and based in Lawrence, Massachusetts, that is paving a pathway of opportunity through a new model of learning and research - socially-directed science and technology.
This grant is focused on socially transformative science and technology learning and will expand Station1’s cross-sector partnerships and the flagship Station1 Frontiers Fellowship, advance the development of asset-based evaluation metrics, and foster the codification and dissemination of best practices and cross-institutional knowledge sharing. This grant is the second award to Station1 by the ECMC Foundation, where the first grant provided support in the founding year.
ECMC Foundation aims to improve higher education and career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. They envision a time when all learners unlock their fullest potential no matter what educational and career pathway they seek.
The commitment of the ECMC Foundation to educational equity aligns well with the mission and vision of Station1. Based upon a foundation of inclusion, equity, and justice the Station1 model integrates science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) with humanistic fields and the social sciences in order to interrogate, understand, and shape technologically-driven societal impact towards more equitable, just, ethical, and sustainable outcomes. Core to this model of socially-directed science and technology is broadening participation for students of color, those from low income households, and those who are first generation to college. To advance this mission, Station1 designs and delivers transformative education, research, and innovation programs and leads higher education collective impact systems change initiatives.
One example is The Station1 Frontiers Fellowship (SFF) flagship program, a national model of inclusive excellence which is a life-changing, paid, ten-week summer experience for undergraduate students focused on socially-directed STEM education, research, and innovation. The SFF partners with leading science and technology organizations across sectors with a high participation from start-up companies. Fellows are placed in a STEM research internship (270+ hours) in a partner host organization in emerging fields such as biotechnology and public health (e.g. tissue engineering, marine genomics, synthetic biology, artificial intelligence/machine learning mental health diagnostics, circular biomaterials, agricultural technologies), geographic and information systems and data for civic, environmental and business impacts, and sustainability of next generation infrastructure.
The Station1 Fellows also engage with a shared curriculum on socially-directed science and technology (100+ hours) which integrates the experiential workplace-based learning internship with culturally and socially contextualized academic topics and professional knowledge. The SFF and its unique model has exceptional outcomes with a 100% program completion rate, and of known alumni outcomes, 99% of alumni are currently enrolled in or completed postsecondary degree programs, and 100% of alumni engaged in meaningful academic and career opportunities. Station1 alumni have transferred from A.S. to B.S. degree programs, received additional prestigious science and technology research internships, permanent offers of employment in leading science and technology companies, and acceptance and fellowships to attend science and technology masters and PhD graduate degree programs.
“We are thrilled and grateful for the commitment of support from the ECMC Foundation,” said Christine Ortiz, Founder of Station1 and Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “As one of Station1’s founding donors, the ECMC Foundation grant will be transformative for providing life-changing experiential learning opportunities for talented students across the country, as well as amplifying the impact of the Station1 model of socially-directed science and technology.”
Ellan Spero, Co-founder and Professor of the Practice at Station1, Historian and Instructor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said, “The opportunity to continue to build our partnership with the ECMC Foundation is greatly valued and will significantly advance cross-sector and cross-disciplinary engagement with socially-minded startups and established companies.”
More information can be found about Station1 at www.station1.org.
Since its founding, Station1 has received gifts, grants, and other support from over 150 dedicated and valued individual donors, philanthropic foundations, corporations, and nonprofit organizations, whose generous contributions have had enormous positive impact on students, communities, educators, and the higher education system more broadly.
Station1 welcomes engagement and support for in a variety of ways detailed here: https://www.station1.org/getinvolved