ATE is Advanced Technological Education. With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the National Science Foundation's ATE program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy.

ATE Project Talks: Preparing Biotechnicians in Northeast Florida

Webinar

May 23 Online

Welcome to the 2025 InnovATEBIO series of virtual ATE project talks.  This series features leaders in biotechnology workforce education from across the US sharing their work on exciting projects funded by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.  The ATE program supports the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation's economy.

Each talk will be 20 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for questions and discussion

Talk 1: Preparing Biotechnicians in Northeast Florida

The current NSF-ATE grant, Advancing Next Generation Bio-Technician Preparedness in Northeast Florida, is aimed to improve the Biotechnology course curriculum to include advanced technology and to reach out the high school and middle school students and teachers to build a community of biotechnology for future.

Speakers:  Kasyapa Chitta, PhD (PI) Florida State College Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL


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NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence

Conference

May 24 Austin, TX

Join NISOD’s International Conference on Teaching and Leadership Excellence, the premier event dedicated to inspiring educators in higher education. Taking place May 24-27, 2025, in vibrant Austin, Texas, this transformative conference offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect, learn, and grow alongside community and technical college faculty, administrators, and staff from across the nation and beyond. Attendees can expect dynamic sessions, hands-on workshops, and powerful keynote addresses, all focused on enhancing student success and advancing teaching and leadership skills. Don’t miss your chance to be part of an empowering experience that celebrates and strengthens the educational community.


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EvaluATE Webinar: Crafting Compelling Case Studies for Evaluation

Webinar

May 28 Online

Case studies are a valuable method for bringing evaluation findings to life, offering rich, contextual insights that go beyond numbers and statistics. This webinar will explore case studies as a tool for evaluating ATE projects, demonstrating how they can strengthen evaluation practice by offering a deeper understanding of program implementation, outcomes, and impact. During this webinar, presenters will explore the role of case studies in evaluation, the key components of a well-crafted case study, the limitations of this approach, and best practices for communicating these insights to different interest holders. By the end of the webinar, participants will have a clearer understanding of creating compelling case studies that provide detailed analysis and contextual insights, engaging audiences, and highlighting key impacts to inform decision-making.


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2025 NICE Conference & Expo

Conference

June 1 Denver, CO

The 2025 NICE Conference & Expo will take place on June 1-4, 2025 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center in Denver, Colorado. This year’s conference theme “Climbing Higher: Educating & Sustaining a Resilient Cybersecurity Workforce” highlights the urgency of strengthening and expanding the cybersecurity workforce. By collaborating with key partners, we aim to tackle current challenges and ensure a secure future.
 


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Summer of Nanopore Sequencing 2025 - Kennedy-King College

Workshop

June 2 Chicago, IL

Nanopore sequencing, which analyzes individual DNA molecules in real time, is the “next big thing” in biology education. It promises to put real-time DNA sequencing within reach of any motivated bioscience teacher. Envision a MinION miniature nanopore sequencing device in every biology teaching lab within a decade.

The DNA Learning Center (DNALC) and Oxford Nanopore are working together to adapt nanopore sequencing for use in education—including improved chemistry, workflows, directions, and packaging/pricing attractive to high school and college faculty. The DNALC’s popular DNA Subway is currently being redeveloped for full mobile use, including a new line for nanopore sequence analysis. Workshop participants will be the first to test this streamlined approach for combining MinION sequence data with the DNA Subway pipeline—providing DNA sequencing and analysis any time, any place, by anyone.

The workshop will appeal especially to high school and college faculty who mentor student research or participate in large, distributed projects, such as DNA barcoding (DNALC), SEA-PHAGES (Howard Hughes Medical Institute), and Tiny Earth (University of Wisconsin). At less than $10 per barcode or metabarcode sample and $30 per phage or organelle genome, nanopore sequencing is a speedy and cost-effective alternative to commercial sequencing. Nanopore takes DNA sequencing out of the “black box,” exposing students to every step of the workflow. Workshop participants will have the unique opportunity to immediately sequence and analyze DNA from samples they bring to the workshop. Barcode, metabarcode, and small genome sequencing will be covered.

All workshop participants will receive a $300 stipend. Although the program expects that most participants will commute to the workshop, funding for travel, room, and board is available for a limited number of qualified applicants living outside commuting distance. 

Applications will be reviewed and acceptances emailed continuously, beginning April 18, 2025.


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BEST Building Automation Systems (BAS) XIV Workshop

Workshop

June 2 Milwaukee, WI

As the national effort to improve building performance intensifies, the use of BAS capabilities for equipment problem detection and troubleshooting and system optimization is critical. Building technicians use BAS to identify, diagnose, and resolve problems. In the BAS Summer workshop, you will practice the skills and techniques used by technicians in the field and develop lesson plans for your own students at your home college.

Working in teams, you will use the Building Automation System and troubleshooting skills to detect and resolve mechanical system problems. 

Topics:

  • Computer/BAS Networking Basics
  • Teaching BAS Basics
  • Testing Inputs and Outputs and Calibrating Devices • BAS Troubleshooting with Data Analytics
  • Sequences of Operations and PID Loop Tuning
  • Reset Schedules
  • Lesson Plan Development

Space is limited: Apply now! Travel expenses and accommodations covered for those without professional development or grant funding.


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Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Practitioner Workshop

Workshop

June 2 Online

Designed for community college educators in IT and cybersecurity, this workshop provides a robust foundation in Amazon Web Services (AWS) to enhance teaching and curriculum development. Through hands-on labs and interactive discussions, participants will gain a solid understanding of core AWS concepts, from storage solutions to computational resources, and learn best practices for integrating cloud computing into their programs. This course empowers educators to foster innovative, collaborative learning environments that prepare students for the demands of a digital world.

 Workshop Highlights

  • Foundations of AWS: Core concepts and services, including storage, compute, and networking.
  • Hands-On Lab Activities: Practical exercises for real-world cloud computing skills.
  • Curriculum Integration: Strategies to embed AWS into IT and cybersecurity courses.
  • Team Collaboration Projects: Engaging projects that demonstrate cloud applications in education.
  • Real-World Case Studies: Insights into effective use of AWS in educational settings.

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Mentor Up Virtual Workshop

Workshop

June 4 Online

This workshop is for teams that are part of the 2025 Mentor Up Cohort.

Participants in this workshop will learn about the NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program and how to most effectively apply for grant funding. Faculty must propose a specific project to improve an ATE-eligible technical program in a one page proposal. One-page proposals will be reviewed through April 1st or until all spaces are full. Proposals will be either accepted or sent back for corrections and the website will remain open until the workshop and a waiting list are full. Workshop activities will include presentations; planning and writing sessions with mentors who have had extensive experience with ATE and NSF; and networking with colleagues from similar institutions around the country. Two faculty from each college can receive stipend support. 


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Manufacturing Your Future : Through Technology, Sustainability and Workforce

Meeting

June 5 Worcester, MA

Manufacturing Your Future Through Technology, Sustainability, and Workforce is an event integrating advanced technologies, adopting sustainable practices, and enhancing workforce strategies.

This day is specifically designed for Massachusetts manufacturers to explore these critical pillars. As an attendee the day will be filled with Keynote speaker, Casey Brown from Boost pricing, Jack Healy Award ceremony and six (6) breakout sessions. Best practices show the more colleagues that attend, the more tribal knowledge gained with a full return on the investment of time.

Join MassMEP on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at the Polar Park – DCU Club Level – in Worcester for Manufacturing Your Future Smart Manufacturing.


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Arduino Certification Workshop

Workshop

June 5 Online

Discover the exciting world of the Internet of Things (IoT) with this hands-on workshop designed specifically for educators. Through engaging projects, you’ll explore electrical concepts, components, and theories using Arduino microcontrollers, electronic components, sensors, actuators, and computer programming. Gain a solid foundation in IoT technologies and learn how to effectively teach these concepts to high school and college students. This workshop also prepares participants for the Arduino Certification Exam, making it an excellent opportunity to expand your expertise and credentials. No prior experience in electronics or programming is needed, so educators of all backgrounds are welcome to join.

Workshop Highlights

  • Hands-on projects exploring IoT using Arduino microcontrollers.
  • Learn about electrical concepts, components, sensors, and actuators.
  • Develop skills in computer programming to support IoT applications.
  • Gain teaching strategies for integrating IoT concepts into high school and college curricula. 
  • Preparation for the Arduino Certification Exam. 
  • Open to educators with or without prior electronics or programming experience.

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Summer of Nanopore Sequencing 2025 - Pima Community College and Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

Workshop

June 9 Tucson, AZ

Nanopore sequencing, which analyzes individual DNA molecules in real time, is the “next big thing” in biology education. It promises to put real-time DNA sequencing within reach of any motivated bioscience teacher. Envision a MinION miniature nanopore sequencing device in every biology teaching lab within a decade.

The DNA Learning Center (DNALC) and Oxford Nanopore are working together to adapt nanopore sequencing for use in education—including improved chemistry, workflows, directions, and packaging/pricing attractive to high school and college faculty. The DNALC’s popular DNA Subway is currently being redeveloped for full mobile use, including a new line for nanopore sequence analysis. Workshop participants will be the first to test this streamlined approach for combining MinION sequence data with the DNA Subway pipeline—providing DNA sequencing and analysis any time, any place, by anyone.

The workshop will appeal especially to high school and college faculty who mentor student research or participate in large, distributed projects, such as DNA barcoding (DNALC), SEA-PHAGES (Howard Hughes Medical Institute), and Tiny Earth (University of Wisconsin). At less than $10 per barcode or metabarcode sample and $30 per phage or organelle genome, nanopore sequencing is a speedy and cost-effective alternative to commercial sequencing. Nanopore takes DNA sequencing out of the “black box,” exposing students to every step of the workflow. Workshop participants will have the unique opportunity to immediately sequence and analyze DNA from samples they bring to the workshop. Barcode, metabarcode, and small genome sequencing will be covered.

All workshop participants will receive a $300 stipend. Although the program expects that most participants will commute to the workshop, funding for travel, room, and board is available for a limited number of qualified applicants living outside commuting distance. 

Applications will be reviewed and acceptances emailed continuously, beginning April 18, 2025.


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TechConnect World 2025

Conference

June 9 Austin, TX

For over 25 years, the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo has connected top applied research and early stage innovations from universities, labs, and startups with industry end users and scouts. The 2025 TechConnect World Innovation event includes the annual SBIR/STTR Innovation Conference; more than 35 world-class technical symposium; and the Nanotech Conference, the world's largest and longest running nanotechnology event.

Since its inception, TechConnect has published over 10,000 technical papers, connected over 20,000 innovations with industry partners, provided scouting support for most Fortune 500 technology companies, and supported most U.S. science and technology agencies, including the National Nanotechnology Initiative, since its inception.


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12th Annual Regenerative Medicine Essentials Course

Workshop

June 9 Winston-Salem, NC

Register today for WFIRM's three-day in-person course taught by prominent experts, provides a comprehensive foundation in this exciting field through lectures, special presentations, interactive panels, and networking. Organized as an educational and scientific meeting, the purpose is to promote the participation and education of all stakeholders, providing global attendees a firm foundation coupled with the "roadmap forward" for this exciting field. 

The 2025 RME course will be held live at the Wake Forest Biotech Place in Innovation Quarter, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. RME 2025 will be offered in a hybrid format with virtual attendance available during the event with capabilities to engage with speakers during panels. Following the live event, virtually registered attendees can continue to access meeting content from July 15, 2025 to October 15, 2025.

Topics include:

  • stem cells
  • biomaterials
  • 3D printing and enabling technologies
  • cell therapies
  • Tissue Engineering (TE) products
  • patient perspectives
  • regulatory development
  • scale up and manufacturing
  • clinical trials
  • commercialization
  • bioethics
  • workforce development and diverse career perspectives
  • plus special topics: Regenerative Rehabilitation, Advancement of Sensor Integrated Organ-on-a-Chip Devices, Stem Cells and the International Space Station, Policy and Patient Advocacy, A World Compass for Manufacturing and Marketing Cell and Gene Therapies.

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ATE Projects and Centers





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All
Mfg

Advanced Manufacturing Technologies topics include:

  • Additive manufacturing
  • Automotive manufacturing
  • General manufacturing
Ag/Env

Agricultural and Environmental Technologies topics include:

  • Agriculture and aquaculture
  • Environmental technologies
  • Natural resources
  • Nuclear power
  • Solar energy
  • Wind power
Bio/Chem

Bio and Chemical Technologies topics include:

  • Biotechnology
  • Chemical and process technologies
Eng

Engineering Technologies topics include:

  • Electronics and controls
  • General engineering
  • Marine technologies
  • Materials technologies
  • Optics
  • Space technologies
Gen

General Advanced Technological Education topics include:

  • Evaluation
  • Learning research
  • Recruitment
  • Teacher preparation
Info

Information and Security Technologies topics include:

  • Geospatial technologies
  • Information and communications technologies
  • Logistics
  • Security, information assurance, and forensics
Nano

Micro and Nanotechnologies topics include:

  • MEMS
  • Microsystems
  • Semiconductors
 
Screenshot for Introduction to Microcontrollers

This 130-page textbook, created for the ELCT 251: Introduction to Microprocessors and Microcontrollers course taught at Lake Washington Institute of Technology, provides students with a foundation in microcontroller technology and programming. Concepts covered include fundamental concepts of microprocessors and microcontrollers, assembly language programming, and microcontroller applications. Included in the textbook are a number of assignments and labs with instructions and student questions. The textbook consists of the following parts:

  1. Introduction to Microcontrollers
  2. Introduction to Assembly Language
  3. Assembly Language Programming - I
  4. Assembly Language Programming - II
  5. Assembly Programming - III

Upon completing this course students should be able to do the following:

  • Understand and program microcontrollers
  • Develop and implement assembly language programs
  • Design and troubleshoot microcontroller-based systems
  • Communicate effectively within a technical environment

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Screenshot for Increasing the Number of Technical Experiences in a Comprehensive High School Lead to an Increase in Dual Enrollment at the Community College

This 9-page unpublished paper, provided by Northwestern Connecticut Community College (NCCC), discusses the impact of NCCC's grant project that aimed to increase "student interest and capability to enter STEM programs and technical careers by building a pipeline from middle school to high school, on to college and into the workforce." For the project, NCCC partnered with Torrington High School to provide teachers with support and professional development training, externships in industry, and materials and funds needed to implement technical lessons into classroom instruction. The paper goes into detail on the project and its results, describing the impact it had on teachers, students, and curriculum development at Torrington High School. Included are excerpts from interviews with high school teachers that participated in the project.

Classroom materials developed as a part of the project are available to view separately.


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Screenshot for Synthesis and Stability of Silver Nanoparticles

This lab, presented by the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, uses silver nanoplates as a tool to explore the relationship between shape and optical properties. Students will be able to compare material properties and behaviors at both the nano- and macroscale through the exercise, as well as experience with scale and unit conversion. A 'Teacher's Preparatory Guide' is included, featuring needed materials, detailed procedural instructions, and additional resources. A 'Student Guide' includes detailed, step-by-step instructions, space for recording data, and analysis questions.


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Screenshot for ATE Student Success Stories: Seethal's Story (Series 3)

This video from the Internet Scout Research Group is part of a series that highlights student success stories related to advanced technological education (ATE) programs. In this video, Seethal Meda discusses her experiences with Montgomdery Community College's biotechnology and biomanufacturing program. Seethal describes her experience reentering the workforce after a 15 year break, overcoming anxiety around taking classes in a different country, and presenting her internship project at the ATE conference in Washington DC. Funding for the program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is also explored.

The video runs 5:56 minutes in length.


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Screenshot for ATE Student Success Stories: Sam's Story (Series 3)

This video from the Internet Scout Research Group is part of a series that highlights student success stories related to advanced technological education (ATE) programs. In this video, Sam Martinich discusses his experiences with Central Wyoming College's geospatial information systems and technologies (GIST) program. Topics covered include Sam's career path and journey to Central Wyoming College, the impact of the program on his life, and his work collecting climate data. Funding for the program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) is also explored.

The video runs 5:38 minutes in length.


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Active ATE Centers 19
Active ATE Projects 291
ATE Resources 6,864
   
New Projects/Centers 60
New Resources 234

ATE Resources by Subject Area

ATE Events by Subject Area

 
Image of two people taking an online course

Upcoming Professional Development Opportunity: Courses in Vaccuum Technology


Normandale Community College will be offering four of its Vacuum Technology classes (VACT) from May 27 to July 27, 2025. To support professional development in vacuum and thin film technology instruction, faculty and educators can audit these courses at no cost. All classes are provided through an asynchronous, online format. 

The following VACT classes are being offered by Normandale Community College this summer:

VACT 1010 (Foundations of Vacuum Science), 2 credits - starts June 2 and ends July 25, 2025.  

VACT 1293 (Concepts of Rough Vacuum Systems), 1 credit - starts May 27 and ends July 3, 2025. 

VACT 1300 (Introduction to Vacuum System Automation), 1 credit - starts May 27 and ends July 3, 2025.  

VACT 2290 (High Vacuum Equipment), 1 credit - starts May 27 and ends July 3, 2025.

Please contact Nancy Louwagie ([email protected]) for assistance with course registration or if you have any questions pertaining to this summer's offerings.


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Man budgeting with icons of money, coins, bills, graphs, and spreadsheet behind her

Upcoming Event: Mentor-Connect Webinar


Mentor-Connect's NSF ATE Budget and Forms webinar will occur on May 21, 2025 from 3:00-4:00PM ET. It will cover personnel direct costs, fringe benefits, biosketches, synergistic activities, charts of accounts (COAs), and more. Register here on Mentor Connect's website

Based at Florence-Darlington Technical College, Mentor-Connec provides one-on-one mentorship, professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and focused ATE grant proposal support to two-year academic institutions and their faculty. Beyond its live webinars, it also offers a robust resource library of past webinars, quick reference guides, checklists, and other tools, support prospective and current grantees of the NSF ATE program. 


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image of a conference podium with a presentation that has a lock, password, and computer window graphics on it

Upcoming Event: 2025 NICE Conference & Expo


The 2025 NICE Conference & Expo will occur June 1-4, 2025, in Denver, Colorado. Hosted by Florida International University and New America, this National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-sponsored event will dive into the theme “Climbing Higher: Educating & Sustaining a Resilient Cybersecurity Workforce.” Each year, the conference brings together leaders in academia, industry, and government to explore how to best support skilled workforce development in the adaptive, dynamic field of cybersecurity.

Attendees at the 2025 NICE Conference & Expo will complete a half-day of focused workshops followed by two days of valuable presentations, insights, and networking opportunities with innovators in cybersecurity education and training. Registration is open through May 26, with employers, managers, educators, advisors, policymakers, and students encouraged to attend.

Learn more about the event on the NICE Conference & Expo website.


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a cloud with a network coming out of it and a laptop with the NSF logo

NSF Awards Grant to CloudBank


The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recently awarded $20 million to expand CloudBank, a program that facilitates access to advanced cloud computing for research in the sciences and engineering. Championed by UC San Diego in partnership with UC Berkeley and the University of Washington, the expansion to CloudBank 2.0 will improve access to artificial intelligence modeling, computing power, and other cloud service for academic institutions of all sizes.

CloudBank 2.0 will also continue to facilitate partnerships with key players in the private sector, such as Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, supporting innovation while strengthening the technology workforce. 

Read more about the recent grant on NSF's website


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