From Research to Practice: Building AI Systems that Transform STEM Learning and Workforce Development

Please join the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for STEM Education for its first distinguished lecture of the 2026 series, Innovations in Education in the Age of AI.

Lecture Abstract:

Artificial intelligence (AI) has great potential to transform how students learn STEM subjects and how we prepare the future workforce, but too often research innovations never make it into real classrooms. Dr. Min Sun’s work bridges this gap by connecting four essential elements: conducting foundational research, developing specialized AI technologies, training educators to use them effectively and engaging the public in appropriately understanding AI's role in education. This presentation will demonstrate specific examples of NSF-funded innovations that are serving learners nationwide and internationally. Dr. Sun will examine current trends in educational AI, while identifying where the field still needs to grow. Essentially, this talk highlights how integrated research and technology development can advance NSF's mission to develop a globally competitive STEM workforce.

About the Speaker:

Credit: University of Washington

Dr. Min Sun is the co-founder of Colleague AI Inc. and professor at the University of Washington, where she directs the national research and development center about generative AI in classroom instruction. She specializes in teacher learning, AI research and application developments in education, and the school and policy contexts that support student learning.

 

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Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed by guest speaker(s) are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.