Ball State STEM Education Center

06/12/2026

06/10/2026

LAST CALL for interested Book Club participants!

If you believe in the beauty and power of mathematics and want to discuss the oft-overlooked creative and inclusive side of mathematics, join us for a Book Club on Jo Boaler’s latest book, MATH-ish.

We kick off our first day tomorrow. The Book Club will be facilitated by the fabulous Dr. Josh Mannix. If you don’t know him yet, he’s someone you should meet!

The Book Club will meet every other Thursday (via Zoom) from June 11 through July 9 from 5:00-6:30 PM EDT. Participants should read the chapters for discussion before the meeting and bring things that stood out, questions they have, and things they want to try based on each reading. The book club discussion schedule is as follows:
• Chapters 1-3 - Thursday, June 11
• Chapters 4-6 - Thursday, June 25
• Chapters 7-8 - Thursday, July 9

Whether you can join us for one meeting or all three, consider signing up using the link below: https://forms.office.com/r/GmKe7mVqEA

06/08/2026

STEM X-Ploration Summer Camp kicks off today!
Our camp leaders are proudly sporting their Ball State red STEM Camp Leader shirts and are excited to welcome the 2026 STEM X-Ploration campers.
The countdown is over—let the STEM adventures, discoveries, and fun begin!

To donate to the STEM Education Center, go to the BSU College of Sciences and Humanities donation page (https://connect.bsu.edu/SciencesHumanities-Give) and follow these steps:
•STEP 1: Select “Dean’s Fund for Sciences and Humanities” in the drop-down menu and select your donation amount.
•STEP 2: Type “STEM Education Center” in the Additional Information box (Important: Funds will not be directed to the STEM Education Center unless this is included.).
•STEP 3 and STEP 4: Follow prompts to complete donation.

06/06/2026

THREE more days until the 2026 STEM X-Ploration Summer Camp begins!

Camp Co-Directors Dr. Jonathan Watkins and Dr. Jenna Menke and their camp crew have been working hard to put the final touches on camp before the nearly 100 grades 4–9 campers arrive on Monday!

Want to help us support STEM education at Ball State?

Follow our STEM Education Center page and share this post.

Want to make a donation to help inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers?

Every contribution helps us keep STEM X-Ploration Summer Camp FREE to campers.

To donate to the STEM Education Center, go to the BSU College of Sciences and Humanities donation page (https://connect.bsu.edu/SciencesHumanities-Give) and follow these steps:
•STEP 1: Select “Dean’s Fund for Sciences and Humanities” in the drop-down menu and select your donation amount.
•STEP 2: Type “STEM Education Center” in the Additional Information box (Important: Funds will not be directed to the STEM Education Center unless this is included.).
•STEP 3 and STEP 4: Follow prompts to complete donation.

06/01/2026

Come join our team of dedicated STEM Educators at Ball State! We have an open Assistant Lecturer/Assistant Teaching Professor of Science Education position with a Fall 2026 start date.

Application closes June 5th!

See link below for application information.


State University Department of Biology

Position Title: Assistant Lecturer/Assistant Teaching Professor of Science Education (Biology) Compensation: $55,000 - $63,000 Department: Biology Start Date: 08/14/2026 About this opportunity: The Department of Biology at Ball State University invites applications for a full-time non- tenure line (...

06/01/2026

The countdown is on—just ONE WEEK until the 2026 STEM X-Ploration Summer Camp begins!

What exciting adventures are Ball State STEM camp leaders preparing this year? Robotics programming? Educational problem-solving breakout activities? Interstellar insights? Science lab investigations? More?

Nearly 100 campers in grades 4–9 will find out soon as they dive into a week filled with exploration, innovation, and discovery—and the best part? It's completely FREE for every camper.

You can help make this opportunity possible. Consider supporting the STEM Education Center with a donation and help inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers. Every contribution helps keep STEM X-Ploration Summer Camp accessible to all.

To donate to the STEM Education Center, go to the BSU College of Sciences and Humanities donation page (https://connect.bsu.edu/SciencesHumanities-Give) and follow these steps:
•STEP 1: Select “Dean’s Fund for Sciences and Humanities” in the drop-down menu and select your donation amount.
•STEP 2: Type “STEM Education Center” in the Additional Information box (Important: Funds will not be directed to the STEM Education Center unless this is included.).
•STEP 3 and STEP 4: Follow prompts to complete donation.

Ball State University Department of Mathematical Sciences
Ball State University Department of Biology

05/29/2026

Only 10 Days until the 2026 STEM X-Ploration Summer Camp Launches!

Our Ball State camp leaders are gearing up for another unforgettable summer packed with hands-on experiments, creative challenges, and exciting STEM discoveries!

This year, we’re thrilled to welcome about 100 campers in grades 4–9 as they engage in fun and inspiring STEM explorations.

Best of all? STEM X-Ploration Summer Camp is completely FREE for every camper thanks to grant funding and the generosity of supporters like you.

Want to help inspire the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and future leaders? Please consider donating to our STEM Education Center so we can continue providing this incredible opportunity at no cost for years to come. Together, we can keep STEM exploration accessible for every young learner!

To donate to the STEM Education Center, go to the BSU College of Sciences and Humanities donation page (https://connect.bsu.edu/SciencesHumanities-Give) and follow these steps:
•STEP 1: Select “Dean’s Fund for Sciences and Humanities” in the drop-down menu and select your donation amount.
•STEP 2: Type “STEM Education Center” in the Additional Information box (Important: Funds will not be directed to the STEM Education Center unless this is included.).
•STEP 3 and STEP 4: Follow prompts to complete donation.

05/21/2026

We have an open Assistant Lecturer/Assistant Teaching Professor of Science Education position with a Fall 2026 start date. Come join our growing team of dedicated STEM Educators at Ball State! See link below for application information.

Position Title: Assistant Lecturer/Assistant Teaching Professor of Science Education (Biology) Compensation: $55,000 - $63,000 Department: Biology Start Date: 08/14/2026 About this opportunity: The Department of Biology at Ball State University invites applications for a full-time non- tenure line (...

05/19/2026

“Mathematics is a fundamental part of life,
yet every one of us has a unique relationship with the subject.”
Jo Boaler, MATH-ish, 2024

If you believe in the beauty and power of mathematics and want to discuss the oft-overlooked creative and inclusive side of mathematics, join us for a book club on Jo Boaler’s latest book, MATH-ish. In this book, Boaler, a professor of mathematics education at Stanford University, unpacks decades worth of research that supports one key theory: mathematics is for everyone, and everyone needs mathematics. By changing the way we think about math, we can change the way we think about the world. These are some of the ideas Boaler explores in MATH-ish.

Our book club, hosted by the Ball State STEM Education Center, will meet every other Thursday (via Zoom) from June 11 through July 9 from 5:00-6:30 PM EDT. Participants should read the chapters for discussion before the meeting and bring things that stood out, questions they have, and things they want to try based on each reading. The book club discussion schedule is as follows:
• Chapters 1-3 - Thursday, June 11
• Chapters 4-6 - Thursday, June 25
• Chapters 7-8 - Thursday, July 9

Whether you can join us for one meeting or all three, consider signing up at the link below. Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion outlining total hours spent in the discussions, which can be submitted for up to 4.5 PGP points.

MATH-ish Book Club Sign Up: https://forms.office.com/r/GmKe7mVqEA