Conference: workshop on dine AI innovation hub at NTU

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Navajo Technical University $100,000 on July 15, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to conduct a workshop on developing a Diné AI Innovation Hub rooted in Navajo culture and place.

The award funds a single workshop at Navajo Technical University's Crownpoint, New Mexico campus, convening 45–50 participants including Navajo Nation leaders, community members, and artificial intelligence experts. The workshop will raise awareness of best practices in AI-mediated systems and tool development, then collaboratively establish a framework for a holistic Navajo Nation AI initiative. Participants will define shared priorities for culturally responsible development and deployment of AI tools that support Navajo economic growth, education, health, language revitalization, environmental sustainability, and systems improvement while safeguarding Navajo sovereignty, culture, and data ownership.

The award carries a period of performance through June 30, 2027. No sub-awards are planned. The project aligns with the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program mission to strengthen STEM education and research capacity at tribal higher education institutions.

Abstract

The mission of the NSF tribal colleges and universities program (tcup) is to support and strengthen stem education and research capacity at specific institutions of higher education. The project titled workshop on dine AI innovation hub at NTU aligns well with this mission. Administered by navajo technical university, project personnel bring together navajo nation leaders, community members, and experts to raise awareness of best practices in artificial intelligence (AI)-mediated systems and in tool development and implementation, and collaboratively develop a framework for a holistic navajo nation AI initiative rooted in navajo culture and place. The workshop, involving 45-50 people, aims to raise awareness and encourage dialogue on complex AI issues and potential partnership opportunities. Through discussions, participants will establish a shared vision and set priorities for a model of culturally responsible development and use of AI tools and opportunities to support navajo economic growth, education, health, language revitalization, environmental sustainability, and systems improvement, while safeguarding and promoting navajo sovereignty, culture, and data ownership. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.