Outreach & Engagement

Appalachian State University engages with educational and community partners in STEM education in a variety of ways. From on-campus locations like the McKinney Geology Teaching Museum or the Dark Sky Observatory, there are many opportunities to engage with science during a visit to Appalachian.

For K-12 classrooms or community partners, there are a variety of ways to connect with faculty members for presentations, activities or collaborations in your location. We also offer research experiences and collaborations with a variety of partners.

Outreach Faculty

shea outreach

Need a guest speaker for a STEM event? Find faculty in your subject area.

SOAR: Summer Bridge Program

SOAR was developed because recent educational research has shown that to be successful in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) discipline, students must have strong preparation. Funded by the College of Arts & Sciences, the SOAR program aims to give every student an equal opportunity for success in STEM. Learn more at: https://cas.appstate.edu/students/soar-stem-bridge-program.

Smoky Mountain STEM

Funded by a $1.4 million grant from NASA to Southwestern Community College, Appalachian has partnered with the Smoky Mountain STEM Collaborative to offer summer research experiences, graduate astronomy courses and outreach to public school partners. 

Appalachian's Speakers Bureau

The Appalachian State University Speakers Bureau is a list of faculty and staff who are approved to speak on a variety of topics based on their discipline and research. Learn more here: https://works.bepress.com/experts/appalachian-state-university/

Summer Ventures in Science & Mathematics

Summer Ventures in science and mathematics is a no-cost, state-funded program for academically talented North Carolina students who aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This program is hands-on, independent learning to conduct research and answer questions.

Students presently in the 10th or 11th grade in high school whose custodial parents or guardians have established legal residency in North Carolina no later than December 1 of the current year are eligible for this program. These students must have high academic ability, motivation and have a keen interest in science and mathematics. 

For more information, visit: https://summerventures.appstate.edu/admissions.