Stem AI and autonomy in action: a stem ecosystem for technical and teaming skills

The Office of Naval Research awarded The University of Texas at San Antonio $159,852 on May 1, 2026, under the Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education, Outreach and Workforce Program (CFDA 12.330) to deliver "STEM AI and Autonomy in Action: A STEM Ecosystem for Technical and Teaming Skills."

Performance runs through April 30, 2029, with work located in Texas. The program supports educational initiatives in STEM disciplines for K-12 students, uniformed Navy personnel, and Navy civilians, with emphasis on naval and defense relevance, workforce pipeline development, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Award selection prioritized scientific and technical merit, outreach effectiveness for future scientists and engineers in defense-critical STEM fields, contributions to the national defense mission, institutional partnerships, and budgetary realism.

UTSA, a Carnegie R1 Hispanic-serving research institution and component of the University of Texas System, serves as the prime recipient. The institution maintains a diversified federal research portfolio spanning planetary science, biomedical research, cybersecurity, and workforce development, with 1,370 prime grants totaling approximately $62.4 million in combined potential value across 180 distinct federal customer agencies.