The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) received a $270,529 Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training federal grant program (CFDA 93.859). The two-year grant, awarded on Sep 1, 2024, supports the development and implementation of inclusive STEM playgroups for young children with and without disabilities and their caregivers in an informal learning setting. Through partnerships between researchers and practitioners, the project aims to increase access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities, address STEM opportunity gaps, and improve caregiver confidence and competence in embedding STEM activities into daily routines. The project will collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to assess the preliminary efficacy of the playgroups in enhancing child-caregiver engagement, child STEM skills, and caregiver self-efficacy. Findings and products from the project will be made freely available to inform the design of future inclusive STEM playgroup initiatives.
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