The STEAM Education Alliance of the Americas is a hemispheric network that promotes educational, scientific, and entrepreneurial collaboration among students, educators, researchers, professionals, and institutions across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States. It was established through a partnership between Universidad Nacional del Comahue (Argentina) and the University of Texas at Tyler (USA), which in 2024 carried out an academic exchange supported by Partners of the Americas and the 100K Strong in the Americas initiative.

Objectives

• Strengthen a strategic hemispheric alliance in STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)

• Encourage active learning methods like project-, problem-, and phenomenon-based approaches, emphasizing multicultural perspectives

• Promote scientific entrepreneurship with workshops on intellectual property, innovation, and business model design

• Assist in gaining entry to graduate programs in the U.S., with support from mentors and admissions teams

• Train a new generation of STEAM Citizen Diplomats to lead scientific collaboration in the region

Advisory Board

• Dr. Juan Arratia, Ph.D., M.S.

• Dr. Aletha Cherry, Ph.D., M.A.T.

• Dr. Duilia de Mello, Ph.D., M.S.

• Dr. Teresa Kennedy, Ph.D., M.A., M.O.

• Dr. Michael Odell, Ph.D., M.A.T.

• Dr. Abi Paytoe Gbayee, Ph.D., M.A.

1. An Entrepreneurial Look Into the Sciences Exchange

DC, Colorado & Wyoming

February 23 - March 8, 2026

The NINE awarded applicants WERE NOTIFIED ON Friday, December 19th, 2025. CONGRATULATIONS!

Applications were due before Friday, October 31, 2025, at 09:59 pm MDT, GMT-6.

An Entrepreneurial Look Into the Sciences is a 3-month educational exchange program designed to empower young innovators from across the Americas to explore how science, technology, and entrepreneurship can drive social impact and hemispheric collaboration.

Sponsored by Partners of the Americas and the U.S. Department of State, and hosted by the Colorado Chapter, the program encourages participants to think critically about the role of STEAM in diplomacy, innovation, and sustainable development.

Who Can Apply

• Ages 21-30

• Proficient in English

• Advanced undergraduate (50% of degree completed) students

• Graduate students

• Early career researchers

• Early career professionals

• Be a citizen of and reside in the same country or citizenship:

  • Antigua and Barbuda

  • Argentina

  • Bahamas

  • Barbados

  • Belize

  • Bolivia

  • Brazil

  • Chile

  • Colombia

  • Costa Rica

  • Cuba

  • Dominica

  • Dominican Republic

  • Ecuador

  • El Salvador

  • Grenada

  • Guatemala

  • Guyana

  • Haiti

  • Honduras

  • Jamaica

  • Mexico

  • Nicaragua

  • Panama

  • Paraguay

  • Peru

  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

  • Saint Lucia

  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines

  • Suriname

  • Trinidad and Tobago

  • Uruguay

  • Venezuela

Fields of Study

• Artificial Intelligence

• Quantum Computing and Science

• Biomedical Engineering and Science

• Computer Science and Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

• Environmental Science and Engineering

• Art in the Sciences

Structure

• Online Preparation (Jan–Feb 2026)

Before traveling, participants complete an interactive online module focused on academic and business English through Language Thread, LLC.

They also participate in a series of practical workshops covering research design, intellectual property, business model development, and pitch presentation techniques.

Each participant collaborates closely with mentors and experts in personalized one-on-one sessions to develop their own STEAM-based innovation or research project.

• Immersion Experience (Feb 23–Mar 8, 2026)

The in-person component begins in Washington, D.C., where participants spend four days visiting federal institutions such as the U.S. Department of State, Partners of the Americas, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, learning how innovation connects with policy and international cooperation. Cultural and educational visits to the Smithsonian Museums and the Catholic University of America deepen participants' understanding of STEAM’s societal impact.

The journey continues in Colorado and Wyoming, where participants stay with local host families and engage in hands-on research experiences at institutions such as the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Anschutz, University of Colorado Denver, and the University of Wyoming. Participants also visit the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the Posner Center for International Development, and enjoy a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, where Colorado's natural beauty is experienced, blending scientific exploration with cultural discovery.

• Post-Program (Mar–Apr 2026)

After returning home, participants complete three mentor meetings and a final report-writing and presentation workshop, during which they share outcomes from their individual projects.

This final phase reinforces entrepreneurial thinking and builds lasting professional relationships across the Americas.

The program celebrates the 62-year legacy of the Colorado Chapter of Partners of the Americas and reaffirms its dedication to promoting cross-cultural exchange and scientific advancement across the Americas.

Outcomes

• Enduring academic and scientific collaboration networks

• Seed projects in research, innovation, or entrepreneurship

• Fair access to training and career growth opportunities

• Joint theses, binational courses, collaborative publications, and scholarship applications (including Fulbright)

• Support for graduate program applications and admissions

• Building an active hemispheric STEAM community

• Dissemination of results and partnerships with regional impact

2. University of Texas at Tyler Exchange

Tyler & Dallas, Texas

February 17 - 20, 2026

Applications closed.

The University of Texas at Tyler Exchange is an intensive three-month program that brings together a participants from Argentina and Ecuador to explore innovative STEAM education and entrepreneurship approaches.

Led by Dr. Teresa Kennedy, Ph.D., M.O., and Dr. Michael Odell, Ph.D., M.A.T., this initiative is organized by the Colorado Chapter of Partners of the Americas in partnership with the University of Texas at Tyler.

The program combines online training, in-person academic immersion, and guided mentorship to ready participants for future leadership roles in international education and research.

Participants

• Ages 21-30

• English proficiency

• Advanced undergraduate (75% of degree completed) students

• Graduate students

• Early career researchers

• Early career professionals

Fields of Study

• Biomedical Engineering

• Chemical Engineering

Structure

• Online Preparation (Jan–Feb 2026)

Participants begin with a thorough online phase that includes English and business communication training from Language Thread, LLC.

Through three progressive workshops, they build skills in research design, intellectual property management, business strategy, and presentation delivery.

Mentors offer personalized guidance to enhance each participant’s STEAM-based project proposal before arrival.

• Texas Immersion (Feb 17–20, 2026)

The immersion week in Tyler and Dallas, Texas, provides firsthand experience of U.S. academic and research environments.

Participants visit UT Tyler and UT Dallas and join the STEAM Education Workshop led by Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Odell.

They tour research centers and laboratories, including the Center for Biomedical Research and the Jasper Department of Chemical Engineering, and engage with faculty, graduate students, and members of the STEAM Advisory Board.

Networking sessions provide valuable insights into entrepreneurial strategies for science education and potential opportunities for future academic collaboration.

• Post-Program (Mar–Apr 2026)

Participants keep working remotely with mentors to finish their final reports and project presentations.

This reflective phase consolidates what they learned during the immersion and helps their development as educators, innovators, and cross-cultural leaders.

Outcomes

• Enduring academic and scientific collaboration networks

• Seed projects in research, innovation, or entrepreneurship

• Fair access to training and career growth opportunities

• Joint theses, binational courses, collaborative publications, and scholarship applications (including Fulbright)

• Support for graduate program applications and admissions

• Building an active hemispheric STEAM community

• Dissemination of results and partnerships with regional impact

More Information

steam.alliance@colorado-partners.net