Wednesday, January 28, 2026 1/28/2026

Authentic Community Engagement in Science (ACES)

Award Number: R25GM137374
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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Authentic Community Engagement in Science (ACES) - The Atomic Circus Experience (ACE) Project Matt Queen & Amanda Obery Improving student access to quality biochemical and STEM education has been a focus of rural educational reform for many years. Positive experiences for students prior to middle school are critical given research showing that students who have an interest in STEM in middle school are significantly more likely to pursue careers in these fields than those who aren’t interested. As part of a holistic approach to this issue, the Atomic Circus Experience (ACE) Project builds on the power of collaborative partnerships and community engagement, shown to be effective ways in working with rural and Native students. Centering on fifth grade students, the ACE Project seeks to build knowledge and interest in biomedical and STEM careers throughout Eastern Montana including rural and tribal communities. To accomplish this goal, the ACE project will work with local teachers, and biomedical professionals to develop a culturally- relevant, place-based biomedical and STEM curriculum, ensuring all students can identify and have role models in these fields. The curriculum will focus on increasing biochemical content knowledge and career aspirations by engaging students through a problem-based learning approach based on local phenomena. The curriculum is reinforced using a traveling, community-customized, multimedia biochemical stage show featuring actors, a full rock band, and a troupe of interpretive dancers. In addition to the work done with the schools, a community engagement night will offer a public showing of the show will also feature a research bus open house and accompanying INBRE-based biomedical researcher. The ACE Project will travel to six communities in Eastern Montana, impacting approximately 7,200 students over the course of 5 years. Overall, this project is innovative in its multifaceted approach to working with rural and Native students and calls upon promising, yet under-used, approaches in culturally relevant and place-based pedagogies, based in the Next Generation Science Standards, in order to make lasting changes in communities around support for biomedical and STEM fields.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $241,111 )
2025	2025	MONTANA STATE UNIV. BILLINGS	1500 UNIVERSITY DR	BILLINGS	MT	59101	YELLOWSTONE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	5	5/14/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$241,111
														Subtotal = $241,111

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $249,717 )
2024	2024	MONTANA STATE UNIV. BILLINGS	1500 UNIVERSITY DR	BILLINGS	MT	59101	YELLOWSTONE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	6/17/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$249,717
														Subtotal = $249,717

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $244,202 )
2023	2023	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS	1500 UNIVERSITY DR	BILLINGS	MT	59101	YELLOWSTONE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	7/3/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$244,202
														Subtotal = $244,202

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $238,385 )
2022	2022	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS	1500 UNIVERSITY DR	BILLINGS	MT	59101	YELLOWSTONE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	5/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$238,385
														Subtotal = $238,385

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $247,728 )
2021	2021	MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY-BILLINGS	1500 UNIVERSITY DR	BILLINGS	MT	59101	YELLOWSTONE	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	6/30/2021	NEW	$247,728
														Subtotal = $247,728

Grand Total All Awards = $1,221,143

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Authentic Community Engagement in Science (ACES)

Award Number: R25GM137374

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2026

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