Initiatives
Science Education for New Civic Engagement and Responsibilities (SENCER) is the signature program of NCSCE.
SENCER was born from a unique course at Rutgers University, where Monica Devanas used the HIV epidemic as a lens to teach fundamental biology. This approach, focusing on real-world issues that resonate with students, ignited their passion for science and deepened their understanding of complex concepts. Its basic strategy for reforming STEM curriculum are reflected in the “SENCER Ideals.“
- SENCER connects science and civic engagement by teaching “through” complex, and unsolved public issues “to” basic science.
- SENCER invites learners to put scientific knowledge and methods to immediate use on matters of relevance to them.
- SENCER reveals both the power and the limits of science in addressing the great challenges of our time.
- SENCER helps all learners connect civic issues of local concern to national and global “grand challenges.”
Since 2001, SENCER has expanded beyond biology to encompass all STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Today, it’s a widely adopted model used across undergraduate education, empowering students to connect science to real-world challenges, develop informed citizenship, and become lifelong learners. Recent content regarding the SENCER project has been moved to this site and can be found at the RESOURCES tab, and SENCER affiliated projects (SENCER-Informal Science, Engaging Mathematics) can be found below on this page. The original SENCER site is still accessible but will not be updated.
Making a Difference Through Science Engagement
We believe science is a powerful tool for positive change. Explore our initiatives designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills to become active and informed citizens on science-related issues
LIBERAL ART OF SCIENCE
In 1990, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) published “The Liberal Art of Science” (LAS), a report from the Study Group of the AAAS Project on Liberal Education and the Sciences . The Study Group was formed in response to the 1986 Carnegie Forum on Education and the Economy report, “A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century.” LAS begins: Science influences every aspect of contemporary American life, yet the United States has been described as a nation of scientific illiterates. The appraisal of leaders in government, education, and the private sector is that the welfare of the nation and the individual will be improved when all citizens have sufficient understanding of science to make soundly based personal, civic, and professional decisions. This national goal can be achieved only through the radical reform of science education at all levels. In 2018, James Collins (Arizona State University) and Gordon Uno (University of Oklahoma) were funded by the National Science Foundation to revise and update the 1990 LAS, and they invited noted science education experts to contribute essays to help frame the key issues that must drive reform for a 21st century LAS.
SENCER-ISE
Science Education for New Civic Engagement and Responsibilities – Informal Science Education (SENCER-ISE), an initiative we are proud of, fosters collaboration between formal and informal science education institutions. This means colleges and universities work hand-in-hand with museums, zoos, and wildlife centers to create exciting programs.
Through SENCER-ISE, these cross-sector partnerships offer a diverse range of civic engagement activities. K-12 students, undergraduates, graduates, and even the general public can participate. SENCER-ISE aims to show everyone that learning about science extends beyond the classroom and can be an active, community-driven experience.
Engaging Mathematics
Funded by the National Science Foundation, our Engaging Mathematics (EM) initiative is a three-year program focused on transforming math education. We are empowering a national network of mathematics scholars to create and implement innovative teaching methods based on the SENCER model and other reformative pedagogies.
Learn Through the Universe
Learn Through the Universe (LTTU) is an interactive website that starts with the scale of students themselves and moves into the sub-atomic realm and out to the edge of the universe. It tells the story of the universe by having students construct true-to-scale models of the universe at powers of ten. Each model is associated with a theme that connects aspects of human nature and culture with disciplinary knowledge and learning activities.