University of Hawaii at Manoa
manoa.hawaii.eduPlanetary science researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have launched an initiative to engage more Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. The two-year project called Ka mālamalama o ka mahina: Building pathways for Indigenous lunar science in Hawaii is funded by NASA. Photo courtesy of University of Hawai'i
First Nations University of Canada
fnuniv.ca
An innovative teaching resource for high school students that combines Indigenous knowledge and mainstream science has been developed by First Nations University. Called the National Science Laboratory Video Lessons for Indigenous Youth, the resource includes interviews with elders and knowledge keepers, experiments, and lab manuals for secondary science students.
New York University
nyu.edu
The Tandon School of Engineering at NYU will undergo a $1 billion expansion of its interdisciplinary lab and research space. The facility is expected to be ready in time for the fall 2025 term.
University of Montana
umt.edu
A grant of $250,000 from the Cognizant Foundation will fund the Indigenous First Year Experience program at the University of Montana as well as the Montana American Indians in Math and Science program for middle and high school students.
University of Toronto Mississauga
utm.utoronto.ca
An independent Office of Indigenous Initiatives has opened at the University of Toronto Mississauga. It will support Indigenous students, faculty, and staff and broaden the school’s outreach to the Indigenous community.
Purdue University
purdue.edu
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company has given Perdue University $92.5 million for scholarships and collaborative research. The Lilly Scholars program prioritizes underrepresented and first-gen students. Also at Perdue, a new online master’s program in applied geospatial analytics will train professionals in agricultural sciences and other fields in the strategic and technical skills needed to arrive at data-driven solutions.
Plymouth State University
plymouth.edu
Construction of a new robotics lab at Plymouth State University has been boosted by $1 million in federal funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
University of Arizona
arizona.edu
Free tuition and mandatory fees for enrolled members of the state’s 22 federally recognized tribes is now available to full-time undergraduate students at the University of Arizona’s main campus in Tucson. The grant can be awarded for up to four years.
University of Florida
ufl.edu
Starting with a $100 million gift, the Scripps Biomedical Research Institute at the University of Florida has launched a $1 billion, 10-year public-private partnership that will enhance fundamental science, support research, and train scientists working to improve health care.
University of Chicago
uchicago.edu
The Center for Motor Neuron Disease at the University of Chicago received a five-year, $10 million gift for research on ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Bard College
bard.edu
A grant of $50 million has gone to Bard College, which it will use to strengthen its Native American and Indigenous Studies offerings. The funding will also help support enrollment efforts for students from underrepresented populations.
Tulane University
tulane.edu
Research to save Louisiana’s wetlands using recycled glass has been supported by a $5 million grant from the NSF. Initial work on the project, called ReCoast, has been promising.
Boston University Medical School
bumc.bu.edu
Half of a recent $100 million gift to the medical school at Boston University will go toward scholarships. The remaining funds will be split between faculty and research.
Spelman College
spelman.edu
The Simons Foundation has given $5.7 million to Spelman College to expand its STEM faculty. This HBCU private college produces the largest number of Black women future PhDs in STEM.
Haskell Indian Nations University
haskell.edu
An NSF award of $20 million has gone to Haskell Indian Nations University to investigate the effects of climate change on coastal regions. The funding, which will support a project with an Indigenous approach, is the largest ever to a tribal college or university.
Black Hills State University
bhsu.edu
The National Science Foundation has awarded nearly $10 million to support an effort called NSF INCLUDES Cultivating Indigenous Research Communities for Leadership in Education and STEM (CIRCLES) Alliance. A leader of this multistate project is Dr. Ben Sayler, professor of physical science and mathematics at Black Hills State University.
Western University of Health Sciences
westernu.edu
The College of Dental Medicine at the Western University of Health Sciences has received a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funds are earmarked to provide dental students with training in underserved communities.
University of Pennsylvania
upenn.edu
The Basser Center for BRCA at the University of Pennsylvania has received a gift of $55 million to establish the Basser Cancer Interception Institute for research into diagnosing and treating hereditary cancers in their earliest stages.
Princeton University
princeton.edu
The first school to replace student loans with grants, Princeton University will waive tuition for most families making less than $100,000. The move will affect about 25 percent of the student body.
University of Toronto
utoronto.caous Design and Engineering Academy (IDEA) at the University of Toronto offers land-based learning to Indigenous high school students to inspire them to pursue engineering studies. IDEA is an enrichment program hosted by the Engineering Outreach Office of the university’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering. Photo Courtesy of University of Toronto
University of Northern British Columbia
unbc.ca
Mitacs, a nonprofit research organization, has partnered with the University of Northern British Columbia on a new Indigenous Research Ambassador Program. The initiative will create 10 research internships focused on culturally sensitive and community-based tools, as well as 12 awards for Indigenous students.
A collaborative Northern Centre for Clinical Research has been launched by the University of Northern British Columbia, the University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine, and Northern Health. The center will focus on research relevant to northern, rural, and Indigenous populations. UNBC also received $1 million in funding for the Hearts-based Education and Anticolonial Learning health care project.
Oregon State University System
oregonstate.edu
Members of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon will benefit from a tuition waiver in the state’s public universities and community colleges. Fourteen of the state’s 18 private nonprofit colleges are also offering tuition discounts. Oregon State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Portland State University, and Southern Oregon University will also offer in-state tuition to members of all federally recognized tribes.
Northwestern University
northwestern.edu
The Department of Energy has awarded a $10.35 million, four-year grant to Northwestern University to lead an Energy Frontier Research Center. Research at the center will focus on hydrogen-based technologies in response to climate change.
Johns Hopkins University
jhu.edu
The Navy has awarded a $4.4 billion contract to the Advanced Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University for research, development, engineering, and evaluating defense and strategic systems.
University of New Hampshire
unh.edu
A five-year, $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health has gone to the University of New Hampshire for research on developing specialized robots to assist in the home care of people with dementia. An interdisciplinary team will work on increasing the capabilities of social assistive robots.
Oregon Health & Science University
ohsu.edu
The Northwest Native American Center of Excellence at OHSU will receive $3.4 million over five years from the Health Resources and Services Administration. The funding will help the center prepare Indigenous students for medical school and other professional health care education.
University of Idaho
uidaho.edu
A $3 million grant from the NSF Discovery Research K–12 program will enable researchers at the University of Idaho to work with tribal leaders and K–12 educators to incorporate Indigenous knowledge in the STEM curriculum. The plan is to test the model this summer in four regions.
University of Utah
utah.edu
Starting this spring enrolled members of Utah’s eight federally recognized tribes will be eligible for a tuition waiver at the University of Utah. Currently less than 1 percent of the student body identifies as Native American.
University of Maryland, Baltimore
umaryland.edu
The School of Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, has received a $1 million gift to support renovation of a state-of-the-art gross anatomy lab and otherwise enhance learning spaces for medical students.
University of Maryland, College Park
umd.edu
A gift of $25 million will go toward construction of a new interdisciplinary engineering building at the University of Maryland, College Park. The facility will be part of the school’s push to become a hub of quantum computing.
University of Minnesota
unm.edu
The first Native American member has been appointed to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents. Also the school’s first senior director of American Indian Tribal Nations Relations Tadd Johnson will represent the state’s eighth congressional district on the board.
University of Georgia System
uga.edu
Six public colleges and universities in Georgia will use a $2.5 million NSF grant to take a STEM program statewide. The funding is geared toward increasing opportunities for underrepresented students, especially through faculty-led research and tech workshops.
University of Hawaii System
hawaii.edu
The graduation disparity gap between Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and the general population will be addressed in the University of Hawaii system by a $575,000 grant from the Lumina Foundation. Part of the funding will go toward preparing faculty for more culturally responsive teaching.
California State University System
universityofcalifornia.edu
The Cal-Bridge program, which provides a pathway for underrepresented students in the state’s community colleges and universities to pursue PhDs in physics, mathematics, and computer science around the state and the country, received a $5 million boost from state funding. The funds will expand subject areas as well as reach more students.
Brown University
brown.edu
A new integrated life sciences building is in the planning stage at Brown University. The completion date for this major new facility, which will provide state-of-the-art laboratory space for multiple disciplines, is expected to be about five years out.
Bowdoin College
bowdoin.edu
Starting this year, Bowdoin College will offer a course in the ethics issues surrounding artificial intelligence technology. The course will be taught by a multidisciplinary team of faculty.
University of Michigan
umich.edu
Researchers at the University of Michigan have made a five-year, $53 million renewable agreement with the federal government to study the Great Lakes. Their investigations will include effects of climate change, extreme weather, and invasive species. The university has also received an $11 million grant to fund research on ceramic batteries for electric vehicles.
University of Alaska Southeast
uas.alaska.edu
Beginning this fall noncredit courses in Alaska Native languages will be offered by the University of Alaska Southeast at no charge. Students can opt to pay tuition for the classes and earn academic credit.