2026
Congratulations to all the presenters at UNH’s 2026 Summer Undergraduate STEM Research Symposium—and thank you to everyone who came to support them!
Shelburne brothers make Vermont history at national Invention Convention
SHELBURNE, Vt. (WCAX) - Two brothers from Shelburne are making Vermont history in the world of young inventors.
Whit Newton, a fourth grader, and Ave Newton, a first grader, both participate in the Invention Convention program, an international K-12 competition featuring young inventors from around the world.
Whit was the first Vermonter to make it to the national competition. His brother Ave became the first Vermonter to place at the national competition, finishing third this year with his invention, the Help Pour, a device designed to help kids pour liquids on their own.
The tool works by assembling a tower around the cup you want to pour into. The user then adds a funnel and pours.
“I just liked inventing. I just started making my own stuff. Like, I really just like doing things and creating things that are new,” Ave said.
Read more about the brothers at wcax.com.
UNH Leitzel Center BELS in NH Program teacher leaders (aka. Fellows) designed and led a STEM education conference
UNH Leitzel Center BELS in NH Program teacher leaders (aka. Fellows) designed and led a STEM education conference on Saturday, May 9th, at UNH Manchester engaging dozens of mathematics and science teachers from throughout NH and neighboring states (VT, ME, MA). The event represents the BELS Fellows' culminating 5-year leadership experience. The conference was organized into 3 strands ---Centering Student Success, STEM Strategies for All, & STEM Lenses---highlighting these teacher leaders' explorations and field-tested ideas and learnings over the 5-year fellowship program.
Auburn student Scott Merrow prototypes accessible VR controller
Scott Merrow, 14, of Auburn, is a gamer. He enjoys playing virtual reality games with his friends, but the typical VR setup — a headset and controllers for each hand — is difficult to use because of his “little hand.”
So, Scott modeled and 3D-printed a custom arm cast with controls inside, which are wired to the remote so he could play.
Inventor protégé
Several students from Shelburne’s Vermont Day School had winning inventions at the 2026 Vermont Invention Fair at BETA. It was part of the worldwide Invention Convention with students participating from multiple local schools.
One of the winners was Aurora Pierce Vidar, a first-grade student who is a resident of Shelburne and student at VDS. Her invention was the static-free jacket, which helps kids prevent static shock when wearing winter layers. Her prototype design was crafted from up-cycled garments sewn with metal thread to conduct static electricity away from the wearer, and their hair.
The winners will have the chance to represent Vermont at the national level.
This article was featured on vtcng.com.
2025
Moharimet Students Contribute to Beech Disease Research
Moharimet 4th grade students have made an important discovery on the school campus that will affect us all.
For the past four years, our students have been contributing to scientific research by monitoring and tracking the timing of budburst and the rate of leaf growth on five tree species in the Moharimet forest.
Starting in early March, students were assigned a tree and made observations 2-3 times weekly, documenting the date of budburst and then measuring leaf growth in millimeters until full size is reached.
The data collected is shared with the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, a program supported by the United States GLOBE Coordination Office at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Leitzel Center.
Rebecca Butler - Leitzel Center's Best Presentation in STEM Education Research or Outreach at the GRC, April 2025
The Leitzel Center Award for STEM Education Research at the Graduate Research Conference (April, 2025) goes to Rebecca Butler, Doctoral Student in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Her research expanded on student perceptions of their interactions with learning assistants in Calculus I.
3rd Annual Vermont Invention Convention held in South Burlington
SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT (Feb. 8, 2025) - Students from all over Vermont were in the competitive spirit, making their own inventions.
Beta Technologies and the Vermont Day School hosted the 3rd Annual Vermont Invention Fair. About 20 students from six different schools participated this year.
Kids explored projects involving air travel, animals, home made video games and more. Students say they hope their creations can help in the future.
“I feel like it is really fun to be someone that is going to slove this huge problem. It is going to make an impact on everyone,” said 6th grader Emme Lanoue.
See more of the coverage here.
Five Leitzel Center program participants and collaborators honored with Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
CONCORD, NH (Jan. 22, 2025) — Five Granite State educators and Leitzel Center collaborators are recipients of the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
Announced last week by former President Joe Biden, this award recognizes the vital role that America’s teachers play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators.
New Hampshire is honored to have five of its teachers among the recipients announced this year. The list honors educators from the 2021, 2022 and 2023 award application cycles, which were just released last week.
· John Tietjen, teacher at Lebanon High School (2021)
· John Blackwell, teacher at Phillips Exeter Academy (2021)
· Susan Leifer, teacher at Mast Way School in Lee (2022)
· Joanne Goelzer, teacher at Coe-Brown Northwood Academy (2023)
· Sandra Swiechowicz, teacher at Raymond High School (2023)
“These five outstanding educators are being recognized for their exceptional ability to engage and motivate, and we applaud them for this well-deserved honor. Their unwavering dedication to STEM learning and innovation continues to shape brighter futures for our students,” said Commissioner Frank Edelblut of the New Hampshire Department of Education. “Exemplifying the very best of New Hampshire’s teachers, these award winners are serving as role models and sources of inspiration for both their students and fellow educators.”
Established in 1983, PAEMST is the highest award K-12 math and science teachers can receive from the U.S. government. The President may recognize up to 108 exemplary teachers each year. Teachers are selected based on their distinction in the classroom and dedication to improving science, technology, engineering and math education. The National Science Foundation, on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, administers the awards program.
For more details, visit paemst.org.
2024
GLOBE Expands Its Reach in Massachusetts
On 14-15 November 2024, a team of GLOBE trainers and Partners headed to Upton, Mass., to present at the Massachusetts K-12 Climate Change Challenge kick-off event.
The initiative was started by GLOBE educator and Massachusetts STEM Teacher of the Year James Gorman, who organized the event with his colleague and Massachusetts History Teacher of the Year Darcy Daniels. The Challenge aims to “empower every student in Massachusetts to tackle climate change head-on …[by] engaging students at every level in various challenges proposed by environmental organizations.”
The GLOBE team was led by Haley Wicklein, University of New Hampshire Leitzel Center, and included GLOBE Mission Earth members Grant Wilson, University of Toledo; Sara Feit and Don DeRosa, Boston University School of Education; and Nico Janik, WestEd; as well as Catherine Bursk from Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI).
Nipmuc Regional High School Hosts Climate Change Challenge Kickoff for Educators Statewide
Superintendent Dr. Maureen Cohen is pleased to share that Nipmuc Regional High School hosted a successful Climate Change Challenge kickoff event to train educators on how to engage K-12 students in climate change education and action.
The two-day event consisted of a series of sessions on Nov. 14-15. Speakers from various backgrounds presented their ideas, including sessions led by representatives from MaxIQ.Space, GLOBE Program, Mass Audubon, Cooler Communities, Wade Institute for Science Education, Blue Hill Observatory, Climate Interactive, Resource Modeling Association, TERC, and the Nipmuc History Department. Educators from 43 school districts across Massachusetts attended the event.
JSU’s Kevia Miles takes on Europe, exploring Swedish ecosystems and tackling global warming
Jackson State University senior Kevia Miles found her calling during the International Collaborative Experiences to Track Arctic LaKe Systems (ICE TALKS) fellowship program. Miles worked alongside graduate students and scientists from around the world to study global warming and conduct field research throughout Europe. Participants received a stipend and all-expenses paid.
“What’s really on my heart now is doing environmental science research and seeing the effects of the environment on the human body. This is what I love,” said the biology major. “It’s so peaceful being out in nature.”
Three local elementary students attend National Invention Fair
In June, three Vermont Day School students traveled to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation in Dearborn, Mich. for the U.S. National Invention Convention.
Shannon Capps (first grade), Whitaker Newton (third grade) and Theo Gonyaw (fifth grade) were each top finishers at the Vermont Invention Fair last February.
At the national fair, each inventor showcased their invention to the public and presented their idea to a team of judges. The inventions included a book puller offer by Capps, hello ring by Newton and backyard farmer and egg collector by Gonyaw.
All three participated in the school’s Invention Club where they identified a real-world problem, conducted research, developed protypes, tested and refined ideas and practiced presentation skills.
Toledo Zoo hosts student research symposium
Learning outside a classroom is better than doing it inside one, elementary students have told a local educator.
Through Project Prairie, youngsters have learned different things about plant life, like its diversity as well as native pollinators. The Toledo Zoo program works with schools and their districts to have students install and study native prairie habitats.
“When I walked around and I talked to the kids, … I asked, ‘So what’s better, classroom learning or what you did with your research in the field?’” said Jodi Haney, owner of XCite Learning in Maumee. “Every single one of them got big smiles on their faces and said, ‘What we did in the field.’ And I asked, ‘Why?’ They said, ‘It’s hands-on, we learn more, and we’re helping the community.’”
2023
The GLOBE Student Research Symposia: Engaging Youth Around the Country in an Environmental Research Community
Youth in today’s world are experiencing the effects of climate change, decreasing biodiversity, urban heat islands, wildfires, low air quality, water shortages, and other environmental problems. They may feel helpless to respond to such large-scale challenges. Yet equipped with the right tools and supported by a scientific community, they can be empowered to take part in developing solutions.
First Vermont Student Attends National Invention Convention Competition, August 2023
The Northern New England Invention Convention recently sent the first student representing the state of Vermont to Invention Convention U.S. Nationals at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Whitaker Newton, a rising second-grade student at Vermont Day School, competed with over 330 students from across the United States. Whitaker’s participation in the national competition represents growth in the invention education ecosystem that is happening across the country, and, particularly, in Vermont, which will host its inaugural Invention Convention Fair in February 2024.
You can read more about Whitaker's participation here.
Congratulations to our Northern New England Young Inventors winners and finalists!
Over 40 young inventors represented Northern New England at the Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI at the 2023 National Invention Convention. We are so proud of all of the inventors, and are excited to announce our two winners. Congratulations to Everly, 1st grader from Hooksett, for winning 2nd place with her invention The Calming Buddy, and to Ria, 10th grader from Holliston, for winning 3rd place with her invention G-Dog.
Cheryl Lavoie - Leitzel Center Award for STEM Education Research at the GRC, April 2023
The Leitzel Center Award for STEM Education Research at the Graduate Research Conference (April, 2023) goes to Cheryl Lavoie. Her research demonstrated that UNH organic chemistry students gained understanding and confidence in their evaluation of organic molecules in terms of their non-polarity or polarity based on training to interpret various models of molecular structure. She is pictured with Steve Hale, Project Director and Leitzel Award Leader.
Don Wason + John Tietjen - Best Posters - URC, April 2023
The Leitzel Center is excited to present Don Wason and John Tietjen for their poster presentations at the Undergraduate Research Conference (April 2023).
UNH Today - Michael Morris inspires young inventors - April 2023
Michael Morris, co-founder and CEO of Torc, was featured in UNH Today as an advocate of software development. He volunteers his time to inspire young STEM students to dream big and serves on the board of directors for the Young Inventors' Program. Read the full article here.
UNH Today - Building Equity Leadership Skills - March 2023
“We have a lot of students who struggle with access to materials because of their socioeconomic status and they also might be experiencing a social-emotional gap. Now there is the added challenge of getting out of the pandemic — the COVID gap,” says Valerie Morneault, who teaches life sciences at Spaulding High School in Rochester.
To build her leadership skills and better understand equity pedagogies for STEM instruction, Morneault applied for and was awarded a fellowship through the five-year Building Equity Leaders for STEM (BELS) in NH program.
2022
Portsmouth Herald article: Grants for robotics teams, Soil Tent Program: Seacoast education news - January 2022
Elementary students explore with the Soil Tent Program
MADBURY — Students from Moharimet Elementary School (Madbury) and Mast Way Elementary School (Lee) got outside in the fall to explore soils with the Soil Tent Program.
The Soil Tent is a traveling STEAM educational exhibit that combines hands-on GLOBE science activities centered around the pedosphere and a 10x10 pop-up tent with murals depicting students’ observations of their local soil ecosystems. The tent was developed by the NH GLOBE Program, the USDA Forest Service, and the Northern Arts Alliance.
2021
Jordan Bader - Best Oral Presentation at the GRC, April 2021
Jordan Bader received the Leitzel Award for best oral presentation in STEM Education Research at the Graduate Research Conference in April, 2021. Her presentation is titled "The Decision is in the Details: Justifying decisions about socioscientific issues". Jordan's faculty mentor was Melissa Aikens, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.
Congratulations, Jordan!
Mike Routhier - Best Poster in STEM Education at the GRC, April 2021
The Leitzel Center Award for Best Poster in STEM Education Research at the Graduate Research Conference (April, 2021) goes to Mike Routhier for his poster titled "Testing Geospatial Technology Learning Tools in the Classroom for Inspiring the Learning of Environmental Science". His faculty mentor was Gregg Moore, Research Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.
Congratulations, Mike!
Celebrating Women Ocean Mappers and Their Stories
The Leitzel Center collaborated with the UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping to celebrate International Girls and Women in Science Day on Thursday, February 11, 2021. The online panel discussion included Josie James, the Portsmouth-based author of 2021’s “Best STEM Book”— Marie’s Ocean —and two UNH-based scientists who have mapped and explored the oceans: Florencia Fahnestock, Research Scientist, UNH Earth Sciences and Elizabeth Weidner, Phd.D. Candidate in oceanography, UNH Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping.
YIP Joins UNH Leitzel Center
The Young Inventors’ Program (YIP) and the University of New Hampshire are excited to announce a new collaboration that will increase resources and strengthen opportunities for K-12 students in the subject areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). A 35-year-old, project-based STEM education program, YIP began at the Academy of Applied Science in Concord as a vision and passion of founder Dr. Robert H. Rines, an inventor, entrepreneur and attorney. YIP was developed to encourage students in early grades to explore STEM principles and apply their learning to real-world problems. It has evolved to meet education standards, including the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), while reinforcing 21st century skills including decision-making, problem-solving and communications. By joining the state’s flagship research university (categorized as R1 by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education), YIP will benefit from the direct-service STEM programs for K-12 students housed at UNH’s Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education.
2020
UNH Receives $3.6 Million To Examine Climate Change Effect on Ecosystems
DURHAM, N.H.— The University of New Hampshire is one of 14 universities from around the globe that have collectively been awarded $12.5 million by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch a new Biology Integration Institute (BII), called EMERGE. UNH will receive $3.6 million and will collaborate with the other universities to focus on better understanding ecosystem and climate interactions—like the thawing of the Arctic permafrost—and how they can alter everything from the landscape to greenhouse gases. EMERGE, which stands for “EMergent Ecosystem Response to ChanGE,” is an ambitious five-year project that will concentrate on discovering how the processes that sustain life and enable biological innovation operate and interact within and between each other—from molecules to cells, species and ecosystems—under dynamically changing conditions. The end result will be a new “genes-to-ecosystems-to-genes” framework to create models that could help predict ecosystem response to change.
Improving STEM Education
With major NSF grant, UNH supports NH teachers
Wednesday, July 22, 2020: UNH Today
A major National Science Foundation grant to UNH aims to improve science and mathematics education for middle and high school students in Manchester, Nashua and Rochester schools. The five-year grant will support 15 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teachers to build their leadership skills, equity pedagogies and STEM content knowledge and instruction.
“It’s never been more important for all New Hampshire students to have access to high-quality STEM education,” says principal investigator Lara Gengarelly, UNH Extension specialist and affiliate associate professor for science education in UNH’s Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education. “Given the shifts in the K-12 science education landscape in the U.S., the performance disparities in STEM subjects across different populations of students and the changing demographics and pockets of poverty in New Hampshire school districts, supporting teachers as leaders in STEM and equity education is essential work that UNH is well-suited to lead.”
“Supporting teachers as leaders in STEM and equity education is essential work that UNH is well-suited to lead.”
The $1.49 million grant will fund a program called Building Equity Leaders for STEM in New Hampshire (BELS in NH) that engages partners from Manchester, Nashua and Rochester school districts as well as two professional organizations, NH Teachers of Mathematics and NH Science Teachers Association, that serve K-12 teachers in the state. Lessons learned from this project can then be applied regionally and nationally.
BELS will recruit and work with STEM teachers in grades six through 10 to participate in a master teacher fellowship program over five years. In addition to deepening their STEM content knowledge and pedagogies, fellows will engage in equity and justice-focused training that aims to enhance their capacity to design STEM learning experiences that are community-responsive, relevant and authentic. The Manchester, Nashua and Rochester school districts represent some of the largest and most demographically diverse and dynamic school districts in the Granite State.
Connecting Through GLOBE
A video from the U.S. GLOBE Office, located at the Leitzel Center at UNH, about high school students connecting through science will be featured in the 2020 STEM for All Video Showcase, held online May 5 – 12, 2020.
The video, “Students connect through science at GLOBE Symposia,” follows students and their teachers as they attend the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional GLOBE Student Research Symposia (SRS) in Boston in spring 2019. Participants describe how the event reaches diverse audiences, their ability to connect students from different demogr aphics and how participation in the symposia has shown to increase student self-efficacy in the science practices.
2019
What's Working: Finding tomorrow's workers in kindergarten?
Union Leader article by Michael Cousineau
MANCHESTER — It’s never too early.
This includes reaching out to kids in kindergarten through second grade to create the earliest of worker pipelines.
“That’s when they’re deciding what to be when they grow up,” said Barbara Hopkins, who’s working on one of several pilot projects that the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute/BioFabUSA is funding.
Hopkins, as part of the effort by the University of New Hampshire’s Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education, is producing “unit lessons” for teachers to use as soon as this fall to get kids interested in the life sciences and eventually pursuing a career.
The aim is to get kids from K-12 involved — and become a model for other states.
Provost Jones Announces Leitzel Center Interim Director
Julie Bryce, professor of geochemistry, has agreed to serve as interim director of the Joan and James Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education for the 2019-20 academic year. Julie brings a dedication to working with K-12 teachers, decades of experience mentoring earlier career scientists and leadership experience in numerous projects from the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey and private foundations to direct scientific research projects, build capacity and engage with the K-12 community.
A member of the Earth sciences department for 16 years, she served as chair for two terms and was a member of the executive committee for the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. This past year she served as a faculty fellow in the Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Engagement and Faculty Development, where she was co-chair of the university’s Research and Engagement Academy.
Professor Bryce will direct the center through its next year and foster its integration into its new home under the Office of Outreach and Engagement within the UNH Research Office; Leitzel Center Director Ruth Varner is taking a year of sabbatical leave (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020).
Please join me in congratulating Julie on her new role.
Sincerely,
Wayne Jones
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Cheryl Lavoie - Best Poster in STEM Education at the GRC, April 2019
The Leitzel Center Award for Best Poster in STEM Education Research at the Graduate Research Conference (April, 2019) goes to Cheryl Lavoie, “Polar or non-polar: Student decision-making when offered sequential or simultaneous exemplars with and without electrostatic potential maps”. She is pictured with her faculty advisor, Chris Bauer, Professor, UNH Chemistry and Ruth Varner, Director of the Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education.
Dalton Marsh received the Leitzel Award for best oral presentation
Dalton Marsh received the Leitzel Award for best oral presentation in STEM Education Research at the Graduate Research Conference at the Whittemore Center in April, 2019. The presentations in the Leitzel Award competition were all extremely relevant and very high quality in the area of K-12 STEM education. He is pictured with his faculty advisor, Sheree Sharpe, Assistant Professor, UNH Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Ruth Varner, Director of the Leitzel Center for Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education.
Hands-on learning for citizen scientists through Schoolyard SITES
Students in multiple Rochester schools have taken on the roles of citizen scientists, thanks to a partnership with the University of New Hampshire’s Cooperative Extension and the Leitzel Center.
Through its collaboration with UNH’s Schoolyard Science Investigations by Teachers, Extension Volunteers and Students (Schoolyard SITES), students at five schools are exploring a variety of scientific areas through hands on research and experimentation.
Schoolyard SITES is a UNH research study that investigates a new professional development model for elementary school teachers, while giving students opportunities to explore science on a deeper and more engaging level. With support from the UNH Cooperative Extension science volunteers, teachers develop science investigations that incorporate student learning goals and the Next Generation Science Standards.
Are you ready to integrate science practices into your teaching?
How can you create opportunities for student-directed investigations in your learning setting? Have you ever considered partnering with a scientist to add depth to your lessons?
These are some of the central questions of the new book "Dive In! Immersion in Science Practices for High School Students" by Karen J. Graham, Lara M. Gengarelly, Barbara A. Hopkins and Melissa A. Lombard.
“Dive In!” explains the important ways in which science instruction is evolving.
