The STEMarts Lab Education Model is based on carefully designed media-rich workshops, online tools, hands-on demos or community SciArt interventions built on instruction with four design pillars that revolve around the core principle that all content must help students connect to self, society and the natural world as an interdependent ecosystem, to develop empathy and see themselves as planetary citizens. The diagram above provides a visual illustration of the key components that guide all the activities and intended outcomes
About
Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
STEMarts Lab is a STEAM youth leadership program and SciArt production studio that aligns to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We prepare youth to change the world for the better through professional opportunities that develop 21st century workplace skills, create cutting-edge projects using advanced technology, and communicate space science concepts to the public through immersive SciArt experiences.
21st Century Skills & Technologies
Cultivate creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking skills applied to emerging technologies. Strengthen digital and media literacy skills to be successful in the 21st century workplace.
Complex Science Concepts
Connect with scientists and research institutions to explore core science concepts. Deepen science literacy and understand its relevance to personal growth and global challenges.
Real World Applications
Engage in science, art, and community festivals to gain professional experience and develop leadership skills. Contribute to interdisciplinary projects that foster teamwork and innovation.
New Media Art + Community Engaged Practices
Create immersive experiences using digital media, XR, and AI to communicate science and inspire social engagement. Cultivate artistic and humanistic literacy as responsible planetary citizens.
21st Century Skills & Technologies
Creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking applied to new technologies.
Complex Science Concepts
Cutting edge + action based applied with citizen science and science lab partnerships.
Real World Applications
Participation in Science, Art Festivals/Events and Interdisciplinary Projects/Collaborations.
New Media Art + Social Practices
Intercultural participatory + experiential process engagement and intervention.
Our History
STEMarts Lab was founded in 2009 by artist Agnes Chavez as a STEMarts Lab research and development project. The model was created to explore how new media art can be integrated with STEM, to inspire and activate youth leaders. In 2012, the STEMarts Lab Curriculum Tool was developed for the International Symposium of Electronic Arts: ISEA2012 Machine Wilderness. In 2014, Agnes became a founding member of The PASEO Festival, and introduced the STEMarts Lab programming to the annual festival working with the Taos community to expand opportunities for STEAM experiences. The STEMarts Lab methodology is centered around new media artists and their unique approach to communicating ideas through emerging technologies.
Core Ethos
- We build educational tools around the work of cutting edge artists and scientists to bring their work into classrooms that normally would not have access to these exciting new ideas.
- We provide participating artists with a new contextual framework for their work where teachers and students can delve deeply into their artistic vision, process and research.
- We prioritize intercultural exchange and collaboration and design culturally responsive programming.
- We are guided by ‘21st century thinking’ with a focus on inner well-being, ethics and social practice toward a peaceful and sustainable future.
- We investigate the latest science research and technologies to inform our design practice and curricula for our future leaders.
- We are committed to closing the gap between the “knowledge rich” and “knowledge poor” which can lead to economic disparity.
- We focus on community outreach to make STEAM programming accessible to underrepresented minorities and girls. Workshop participants are representative of the socio-economic and cultural diversity of their community.
- We are engaged in the transition from being passive consumers of technology to problem solvers, critical thinkers and innovators of new technologies investigating the social, environmental and global impact of the tools we are using.
Bridging the Digital Divide
The STEAM movement has advanced science and digital literacy, but today’s world demands more. STEMarts Lab expands STEAM by integrating arts, humanities, and futures thinking through immersive community-based projects. Our work is especially impactful in rural communities, where access to innovative technology and meaningful engagement is limited. Through interactive SciArt experiences, we empower youth to move from digital content consumers to creative producers. By exploring the universe, students reflect on their role as planetary citizens, building artistic, scientific, and humanistic literacy through a transdisciplinary lens. Our programs help students connect to real-world issues and prepare them to thrive in an evolving digital landscape.
Aligned to UN SDGs
STEMarts Lab combines immersive SciArt experiences with interactive online tools designed to connect youth with global challenges. Projects are developed in collaboration with artists, scientists, and cultural specialists who are actively working in their fields, bringing real-world knowledge and diverse perspectives to every experience. These professionals help youth explore complex topics at the intersection of science, technology, and creative practice.
All STEMarts initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a global framework for building a more sustainable and resilient future. By engaging with these goals, youth see their contributions as part of a larger mission to address critical issues—from climate action to clean energy to responsible innovation. The online platform offers curated activities, digital media tools, and project challenges that empower youth to apply STEAM skills to real-world impact.
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