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.

Autonomous Nation 2026

Conference

September 17 Wheatland, ND

The event serves as a platform to showcase new technologies, foster collaboration between public and private sectors, explore the latest advances in autonomous systems, with a special focus on agricultural applications, and support the transition from research to real-world use.


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Connecting Researchers and Educators to National Computing and AI Resources

Meeting

September 18 Online

Advanced computing, artificial intelligence, and research networking resources are transforming research and education across disciplines, yet many researchers, educators, and students remain unaware of the national infrastructure available to support their work. This presentation introduces the Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support (ACCESS) program, the National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot, and the National Research Platform (NRP), highlighting opportunities to obtain computing allocations, AI resources, research networking capabilities, training, and educational support. Participants will learn how to access nationally supported cyberinfrastructure resources, leverage advanced computational and data-intensive platforms, and take advantage of training and user support services designed to accelerate discovery and innovation. The session will provide practical guidance for educators seeking classroom resources and researchers looking to expand the scale, impact, and accessibility of their computational and data-driven projects through nationally coordinated infrastructure and services. 


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IBM SkillsBuild: Decoding Responsible AI

Webinar

September 18

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

  • Analyze AI Ethics Dilemmas: Identify and evaluate ethical challenges present in common AI tools and daily applications.
  • Assess Fairness & Transparency: Examine algorithmic transparency, bias, and fairness in everyday technology tools.
  • Evaluate AI-Generated Outputs: Critically judge the ethical implications and reliability of content created by AI systems.
  • Make Informed & Responsible Decisions: Apply practical frameworks to choose and utilize AI tools that earn trust and respect human rights.

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2026 EARTh Center Virtual Fellows Institute

Workshop

September 18 Online

EARTh Center is excited to partner with Nahant Marsh Education Center for the next EARTh Center Virtual Fellows Institute in the fall of 2026! This virtual institute will take place over three different days, for two to three hours each session. 

The theme of the institute is Emerging Trends in Conservation and Natural Resource Management. Topics covered include, but are not limited to: new ways that AI is being utilized in the field, GIS and drone applications, and exploring nature-based solutions. Attendance for each session is mandatory to receive the full stipend amount for participation in the institute. The full participation stipend will be awarded based on attendance, engagement during the sessions, and completion of the evaluations for the institute from the EARTh Center external evaluation team.

Each session will happen noon-3pm CST.

Session dates are:
September 18
October 16
November 13

Applications will close August 17, 2026. Participants will be contacted regarding selection by August 21.


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Girls In Aviation Day (Glyndon, MN)

Student Event

September 19 Glyndon, MN

Join Girls in Aviation Day 2026 at the Moorhead Municipal Airport! This free, family-friendly event is open to all ages, with hands-on activities designed especially for youth ages 5–18. Discover the exciting world of aviation through interactive experiments, creative crafts, and inspiring conversations with local aviation professionals. Enjoy food trucks on-site and explore a variety of aviation careers from companies making a difference in our area. Whether you're dreaming of flying planes, designing them, or fixing them—there’s something for everyone to explore!


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Girls In Aviation Day at Flying Cloud Airport

Student Event

September 19 Eden Prairie, MN

This is a free, limited-space event for the community to learn more about the aviation industry. The content of GIAD is geared toward girls ages 8 to 17, but everyone is welcome to attend! Bring your family, friends, troop, and group to learn more about STEM and aviation careers, including pilots, mechanics, and MORE! 


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International Whey Conference

Conference

September 20 Chicago, IL

The Whey Ahead will feature a distinguished list of global experts sharing current research and trends, health and nutrition benefits, new product applications and critical processing techniques.  


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Commercializing Industrial Biotechnology (CIB)

Conference

September 22 Chicago, IL

The Commercializing Industrial Biotechnology (CIB) conference spotlights best practices, lessons learned, and technology innovations for accelerating commercial production of bio-based products and building the circular bioeconomy. This is the premier conference focused on scale-up and commercialization of new products in the synthetic biology, fermentation, and industrial biotechnology spaces. 

You’ll engage with industrial biotech leaders and practitioners as you explore the latest in the field — including developments that are driving a new wave of products. At CIB, you'll hear hard-won lessons from industry veterans — and draw inspiration for your own technology development efforts while learning and networking about new enabling technologies, products, market needs, and companies. 


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2026 National Cybersecurity Virtual Career Fair

Student Event

September 22 Online

This virtual career fair connects students from institutions designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber-Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), and Research (CAE-R), as well as Candidate program institutions, with cybersecurity employers.


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Evaluation Reports Everyone Can Use: Accessibility Practices for ATE Evaluators

Webinar

September 23

A well-written evaluation report still falls short if people can’t actually access it. For evaluators working with NSF ATE projects, accessibility means more than meeting federal standards under ADA Title II, which applies to public institutions and the digital content they produce. It means creating reports that everyone can access and understand in order to make sound evaluation decisions.

This webinar walks through what evaluators need to know to prepare accessible reports. Presenters will cover document structure, plain language and formatting practices, and other considerations for anyone communicating evaluation findings. You’ll leave with practical strategies you can put to use in your next report, whether you’re just starting to think about accessibility or want to sharpen practices you already have in place.

Accessibility isn’t an extra step. It’s part of what quality evaluation work looks like. Join to make sure your reports reach everyone they’re meant to reach.


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A Proven Pathway to NSF ATE Success

Webinar

September 23

Tap into expert guidance and insider ATE Program knowledge—without spending a dime! Join this information-filled webinar to explore the latest solicitation and learn how free mentoring through Mentor-Connect can help you develop a competitive, successful proposal.


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AMTEC Community of Practice: Turning Industry Trends into Classroom Opportunities

Webinar

September 24

Join the AMTEC Institute for Industry 4.0 Innovation (NSF ATE DUE 2350012) Community of Practice session on September 24th at 3pm (CT)! As automation and AI continue to transform manufacturing, workforce readiness has never been more important. Christelle Keefer, A3's Director of Training and Certification, will lead the session and explore today's workforce challenges, the growing skills gap, and practical strategies for preparing students for high-demand careers. Learn how A3's vendor-neutral training, certifications, and educational resources can help educators integrate Industry 4.0 concepts into the classroom and strengthen the connection between education and industry.


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MATE ROV Academy Teacher Workshop - Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Workshop

September 25 Sheboygan, WI

This free teacher workshop covers the scientific and technical concepts behind underwater robotics and ROV building. Dive into the scientific and technical concepts behind underwater robotics and learn how to apply them to building a SeaMATE ROV kit, practice navigation skills in the pool, and develop strategies to prepare a student team for the MATE ROV Competition. Participants receive a SeaMATE ROV kit, power supply, MATE ROV Academy toolkit, and Underwater Robotics textbook along with travel support.


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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
 

This video from Internet Scout Research Group is intended to accompany the 2026-2027 Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Impacts book, which showcases the role two-year community and technical colleges play in building the skilled technical workforce. The accompanying videos share the experiences of ATE students and perspectives from the ATE community, highlighting the impact these initiatives have on lives and careers.

Using an ATE grant, Bridgerland Technical College (BTC) has built an automation and manufacturing program that meets the need for skilled technicians in northern Utah. In this video, Mat Fuller, Automation Program Head at BTC, and Besim Hojhalli, Controls Engineer at industry partner SAE, share how BTC’s ATE grant has allowed them to scale the curriculum, support more students, and develop a network of industry partners. Fuller and Hojhalli discuss how the program’s industry advisory committee supports curriculum development and hands-on learning opportunities for...


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This resource, published by Portland Community College, is the first issue of the third volume of J ATE. J ATE is a peer-reviewed technical journal focused on community college faculty and staff who work with technician education. This journal is cross-disciplinary and encompasses all technologies under the National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program. Some of these technologies include: Micro Nano, Biotechnology, Autonomous Technology, Cyber Security, Advanced Manufacturing, Earth Sciences, Agriculture Technology, Energy, and Welding. Some topics that cross cut across all disciplines of technician education are also covered. Those topics include: Evaluation, Mentoring, Undergraduate Research, and Applied Technician Research.

The issue spans 167 pages and focuses on community college faculty work and research. Included are 17 full articles and a guest letter from Kalyn Owens, ATE program director. Listed below is each article and corresponding DOI...


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This collection includes three documents and twelve video clips that summarize the results of the Workforce Summit for Industry 4.0 launched by the Corporate Member Council of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASSE). The Workforce Summit for Industry 4.0 brought together "experts, academic leaders, and other community stakeholders to plan how to transform education of the skilled technical workforce to respond to the fourth industrial revolution." The 3-page infographic, 4-page executive summary/policymaker's briefing, and the 8-page white paper each provide an overview of the summit in varying detail. The documents introduce the summit and discuss its goals, themes, key recommendations for technician education, and examples of promising instructional models for training skilled technical workers. Additionally, the white paper discusses the findings of summit meetings and summarizes the webinars that led up to the summit. The video clips run from three to ten minutes and...


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This experiment, presented by the National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure, covers Shape Memory Alloys or Smart Materials. A Smart Material or Shape Memory Alloys belongs to a class of materials which displays the shape memory effect (SME); they possess the ability to radically change crystal structure or phase at a distinct temperature. The lab will "explore how smart materials work and what applications these materials are used in." Additionally, students will be provided with a brief history lesson about the origins of smart material. The experiment is quite fun, students will observe how smart materials can "think and do amazing things." A student and teacher guide is provided with the lab. 


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This 80-page report provides an extensive overview of the Envisioning the Next Bioscience Workforce summit held by InnovATEBIO on the 26th and 27th of June, 2023. The summit gathered "attendees from education, industry, workforce development and government gathered for two days to learn about emerging trends and technologies in the biosciences and to convene within 'state teams' to develop action plans for strengthening the bioscience workforce ecosystem in their state." The report begins with a summary of the summit and a discussion of its conclusions and strategies developed for building statewide bioscience workforce ecosystems. Then, the report goes into the findings of each panel/mini-panel discussion and covers the "state teams" model for collaboration in promoting the biotechnology workforce. The report includes the following sections:

  • Executive Summary
  • Industry/Education Presentations and Panels
  • Bioscience Workforce Ecosystem Panels
  • Building the Bioscience Workforce of...

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Active ATE Centers 14
Active ATE Projects 257
ATE Resources 7,148
New Projects/Centers 92
New Resources 122

ATE Resources by Subject Area

ATE Events by Subject Area

 

Upcoming Webinars: Evalu-ATE and Mentor-Connect

On September 23, both Evalu-ATE and Mentor-Connect are hosting webinars regarding evaluation and funding opportunities. From 12 p.m.- 1 p.m. CST, Evalu-ATE is hosting “Evaluation Reports Everyone Can Use: Accessibility Practices for ATE Evaluators.” This webinar will explore what evaluators need to know to prepare accessible reports. Information on document structure, plain language, formatting, and other communication strategies will be provided. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to implement while writing their next report! 

After this webinar, join Mentor-Connect and NSF to explore funding opportunities! This webinar will take place at 2 pm CST and inform attendees on how free mentoring through Mentor-Connect can help you to develop both a competitive and successful proposal. 

To learn more about these webinars or to register, visit the Evalu-ATE webinar page and the Mentor-Connect registration page. 


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Upcoming Event: ATE PI Conference

The annual ATE Principal Investigators (PI) conference is taking place this year from October 21-23 in Washington, D.C. This conference is hosted by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), with more than 800 NSF ATE grantees and partners in attendance. Registration is primarily limited to the principal investigator, co-principal investigators, and team members of ATE-funded grants. Additional attendees may register through association with an ATE grant team. This year's theme is “ATE in Action,” reflecting the work of the projects and centers that make the ATE community strong. 

The ATE conference is an opportunity for the national ATE community to convene, advancing STEM technician education through the leadership of community and technical colleges working in partnership with business and industry, secondary and postsecondary education, and other key stakeholders. The deadline to register for the conference is September 24th. 

To learn more about the conference or to register, visit the ATE in Action website. 


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New Issue: Community College Journal

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) has released the August/September edition of the Community College Journal! This journal offers contemporary information, insights, strategies, and connections for those in academia, industry, government, and workforce development.

 This edition, entitled “Beyond the Classroom,” includes information on student housing solutions, community colleges refining their library experiences for students, and the role community colleges play in civic engagement. The August/September publication is available online, and archived issues can be viewed in the AACC library. 


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