Our Strategic Plan
For more than 100 years, 缅北禁地 has been dedicated to expanding scientific literacy, access to STEM education and scientific research. The Society enters this next 100 years from a strong position as a leader in this field, with a growing network of alumni, readers and educators who champion science in the U.S. and globally across sectors and disciplines.
To capitalize on this position, in 2023 the Society worked with the Bridgespan Group to develop Our Five-Year Strategy: Setting the Foundation to Extend Our Reach for the Next Century. Due to the need for editorial independence, Science News Media Group conducted a concurrent strategic planning process under the guidance of La Piana Consulting.
Comprehensive input from our community elevated five strategic priorities to maximize our impact:
Strengthen the organization and operations
including investments in capacity, systems and processes
Lead longitudinal data and impact measurement
including data collection, analysis, reporting, and learning mechanisms and processes
Strengthen foundational programs
building journalism and competition feeder infrastructure
Nurture and activate networks
including alumni, educators, subscribers, members, volunteers and donors
Increase access and participation
in the STEM talent pipeline
To achieve our strategic priorities, we developed a two-phase strategy.
Phase 1: Strengthen our foundation (Years 1鈥�2)
Strengthen our organization and operations through critical enabling investments in capacity, systems and processes to fortify our organizational 鈥渟pine鈥�
Strengthen our foundational programming and set the foundation to extend our reach by positioning ourselves to grow our STEM Outreach Programs
Phase 2: Maximize our potential impact (Years 3鈥�5)
Deepen support and engagement of our audiences 鈥� our alumni, educators, subscribers, members, volunteers and donors 鈥� through intentional supports and ongoing community facilitated across our organization
Unlock our full potential as a field leader; pilot efforts to further broaden our audiences, unlock full support from our networks, and influence the field through data and research
Additionally, as part of this project, we developed a Theory of Change to guide our work.
The Society’s key activities…
Lead to intermediate outcomes…
Community of STEM leaders and champions expands audiences and is supported and empowered to advance our collective vision
New scientific talent and innovative thinking are elevated and encouraged, spotlighting questions, solutions and individuals that might otherwise be overlooked or excluded
Scientific literacy and interest in STEM increase across the general public
Access to and excitement about high-quality STEM education, scientific research and scientific knowledge expand in ways to benefit us all
To achieve over the next decade…
A generation interested in STEM, including STEM leaders and champions who:
Define a high standard of scientific excellence and integrity
Advance science and lift up ideas from all people that benefit the world
In order to ultimately to…
Ensure that, in a scientifically led world, everyone feels like they have access to and belong in science
The Society will be incorporating the priorities identified in our strategic planning process into our annual Operating Plan for the next five years to ensure we are aligned across all departments as we live up to our role to elevate and celebrate science. We view this as an opportunity to connect our future with our legacy and assets to maximize the full potential of our work.
