Reflections on 2025
A girl pushes a plunger of a science exhibit, looking at a tube of rising bubbles.
This year has brought many challenges for the field of informal STEM education. From the sunsetting of government programs aimed at supporting our field to the layoffs of many of our peers, ISE organizations have faced numerous challenges and had to quickly adapt. At this time, we look to private foundations to help fill the void of funding and be leaders in guiding the next phase of the field. In fact, in a recent Voices from the Field report on the impacts of funding and policy changes on STEM equity efforts in the U.S., respondents from informal and formal learning cited funding as the top resource that would support their STEM equity efforts.
In trying times like these, I find it helpful to reorient to my values and what brought me to ISE in the first place: the way that ISE can make learning “alive” for all ages; how ISE can serve as a bridge for youth seeking careers in STEM, especially if they come from backgrounds not traditionally advantaged; that the work we do makes complex topics accessible to all and encourages critical thinking; and that the programs we support tackle important issues like climate change, media literacy, and emerging technologies.
Take heart that the work you do is meaningful and impactful. As we close out the year, I urge you to take a hopeful lens and treat the trials of this year as a call to action to reinvest in our important work. I also encourage you to rest, lean into community, and take pride in the work we’ve accomplished so far.
As we look to incorporate these practices ourselves, there will be no feature or newsletter at the end of December. We’re taking some time off to close out the year and enjoy the holiday season. Wishing you the same and a happy start to 2026!
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