NSF's Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) Initiative

The National Science Foundation (NSF) introduced the Eddie Bernice Johnson Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (INCLUDES) Initiative in 2016. This initiative was a part of NSF’s "Big Ideas", which were ten research and process concepts aimed at fostering innovation and progression in science and engineering fields.

The INCLUDES Initiative aims to enhance American global leadership in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by ensuring increased accessibility, inclusivity, and diversity. The primary focus is on cultivating the STEM potential of underserved or historically excluded groups, leading to an innovative and diverse STEM workforce that matches the diversity of the nation's population.

The Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) / Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) accepts proposals for the initiative, which are then managed by an interdisciplinary team of NSF Program Directors. The goal is to stimulate and expedite collaborative infrastructure to encourage equity and initiate systemic change across STEM fields.

Five types of projects receive support under this initiative: Design and Development Launch Pilots, Collaborative Change Consortia, Alliances, Network Connectors, and Conferences. All these projects contribute to the National Network, a diversified alliance of agencies, organizations, and individuals striving to broaden participation in STEM.

A crucial component of this initiative’s strategy is the implementation of five collaborative infrastructure design elements - shared vision, partnerships, goals and metrics, leadership and communication, and expansion, sustainability, and scale. These elements aim to create significant systemic change, leading to increased participation of individuals from historically underserved and excluded groups in STEM. The ultimate purpose is to drive innovation and bolster long-term economic competitiveness in the country.