NEW! Project CANVAS — Collaborative Artificial Neural Visual Arts Studio— This is a new program for us, recently funded in part by the Mass Cultural Council. In this project, we aim to build upon work done at Carnegie Melon and Harvard, to use industrial, 6-axis high powered robotic arms, along with AI, to create unique artistic representations, map out all the brush strokes into a robot-usable format, and then, produce hybrid, rea-world traditional beautiful 2D painted art pieces, through the joint work of both human and AI collaborators. Our goal is to merge our existing AI rurricula with this new approach and grow this into a low-cost scalable intervention that can be used at schools and OST sites around the country. Imagine offering a course to your own students that integrates CS and AI lessons, along ith art theory, and bring it all together in the form of a cool robot that makes (no-kidding, here) museum-quality art pieces on various surfaces (canvas. of course, panels, or really, anything, even textured surfaces). The CANVAS-BOT will continuously train and learn from its human collaborators, and work happy side by side with (human) student collaborators to make art that you can gift to your friends/family or display in your school as an example of how humans plus machines can make amazing things together! Learn about our new MCC grant to expand our Project CANVAS programs here.
Entangled: Quantum Education – join us on a part-physics and part-metaphysics journey through space and time, to uncover the mysteries of quantum computing through interactive narrative content and social interactions. Free interactive materials (such as interactive comics & educational video games) , curricula and more. More ENTANGLED info here.
AIMAS: AI + Arts – Reach out to us to learn about our youth AI courses, which we’ve been continuously improving and researching with our partners at University of Virginia since way before the current AI craze. Students learn about data science & AI basics, through fun, creative classes focused on the creation of digital and physical artworks, music and videos through a rapidly expanding program that has been tested at interventions throughout the US, Asia and Europe. Remote and On-Site Professional Development now available. Read more about the original conception of this project in NSTA’s The Science Teacher
LogicDS – An NSF-funded project in partnership with universities and educational organizations across the US, we’re creating one of the world’s first comprehensive logic and reasoning based data science/AI courses with freely available curricula & professional development resources. Find more detailed information about this project at this link. For free access to our materials, contact us.
PRISM-SEF – This ongoing project is conducted in partnership with Emory University & UVA; Persistence in Research with Intelligent Student Mentorship in Science & Engineering Fairs (PRISM-SEF). – Using AI-based tools, we work with students in underserved communities to accelerate their science fair research, and understanding of the scientific method and engineering design principles. If you have students thinking about entering a science fair this year, please reach out to us. Remote mentorship opportunities available on a first-come, first-served basis. This project is an extension of the former KSI Project (Knowledge Seeker Identity) which we are still actively working with our partners to complete analysis and dissemination of research outputs. Center for Science Engagement leverages its fiscal agency partnership with the long-standing MIT MSEF Region V Science Fair in South Shore, MA, to conduct research on the mentorship strategies used by schools, OST providers and other educational community members, to uncover the best practices in student PBL mentoring, in the age of AI.
AI-FOCIS
Non-Cog Instrument: STEM program assessment instruments & analysis – using our own custom developed AI technologies, we analyze and predict student outcomes from educational interventions, to build upon the work of FOCIS Group and the FOCIS non-cognitive instrument. Our real-time measurement tools enhance existing quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research, and allow educational program providers to make quick decisions about how to modulate approaches, inform their methodologies and improve their planning for subsequent interventions, with a discrete focus on holistic evaluation of each individual student, from content/skills understanding through identity formation and transformation Check out one of our projects in this research space, here, FOCISGroup. Learn about some of our LLM based deductive coding and data anlalysis work here.
International Science Festival Consortium – working in collaboration with science festivals, fairs and centers from around the world, we’re cataloging and distilling the best-in-class STEM education resources from around the world; our annual event brings together STEM research leaders for a conference and roundtable opportunity to share and celebrate successful ideas. Through our close partnership with MIT MSEF Region V, we develop and enhance project based learning programs for students and teachers across Massachusetts, with a number of active ongoing programs in the South Shore.
Web properties – CSE maintains a number of Youtube channels, websites and other Internet properties to provide content and inspiration for our various programs. As of mid-2025, we are working to centralize all of our content from MisterScienceFair.com, IISEER, ASDHEM, Project Brainchild, the Podokesaurus Project, and MORE into one location, that you will find right here on the CSE website. Check out our newest biweekly Podcast, SpaceNotes And, here’s the main podcast link. – featuring the latest and most interesting NASA news, hosted by a NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador.