Project Grant 2601544

The National Science Foundation Division of Engineering Education and Centers awarded the University of Connecticut $599,998 on December 15, 2026, to establish a Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) site focused on resilient infrastructure engineering at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The RET site will host ten teachers each year for six weeks to explore research in water, energy, and transportation infrastructure technology, processes, and modeling that maintain and improve public health, safety, and quality of life. Teachers will collaborate with six faculty members and five graduate students annually to develop and deliver curriculum for grades 6–12 that introduces students to infrastructure-focused engineering concepts and community engagement practices. Over the three-year period of performance through November 30, 2029, the program expects to engage 30 teachers total. Teams of teachers, faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students will work together to develop classroom materials exposing junior and secondary students to engineering skillsets and pathways in community-focused infrastructure design.

The program pursues three core objectives: building teacher knowledge of infrastructure-relevant engineering concepts transferable to classrooms; developing teacher understanding of how engineers collaborate with stakeholders and communities to strengthen infrastructure resilience; and establishing enduring partnerships with grades 6–12 teachers and schools that enrich experiences for both undergraduate students and K–12 students. Work is performed in Storrs, Connecticut.

The award operates under the NSF Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) as a Project Grant assistance type.