UNO Lands NSF Grant to Turn Sports Into a Gateway for STEM Education

Participation in youth sports in the U.S. is at a near all-time high at 58%.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) believe passion for sports could be the key to helping the next generation understand some of today's most important technologies and inspire them to take on careers in STEM, artificial intelligence, and data science fields.

What's new: UNO has received a $749,894 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch Sports Phenomena and Authentic Data for Real-world Knowledge and Artificial Intelligence Interest (SPARK-AI), an interdisciplinary research project that uses sports science to introduce middle school students to AI, data science, and quantitative reasoning.

• Led by Brian Knarr, Ph.D., associate professor of biomechanics at UNO, the project brings together researchers from UNO's Department of Biomechanics, Department of Teacher Education, and the STEM TRAIL Center.
• Researchers will work with middle school science teachers to develop approximately 45 classroom lessons that connect sports-related phenomena and real-world movement data to scientific concepts.
• The project includes partnerships with the Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium (MOEC), Omaha Public Schools, and Millard Public Schools.

How it works: SPARK-AI aims to make complex concepts easier to understand by connecting them to activities students already recognize.

• For example, analyzing the movements of an athlete can provide an opportunity to explore how scientists collect data, identify patterns, and use technology to better understand human performance.
• The project also addresses an important challenge facing K-12 educators: Helping teachers develop the skills and resources to introduce emerging technologies and high-demand skills into their classrooms.
• By providing professional development and classroom-ready instructional materials, SPARK-AI aims to strengthen teachers' confidence in teaching AI concepts while helping students build skills they can apply across scientific disciplines.

Participating teachers will receive professional development and work with researchers to design and pilot lessons using authentic sports data and AI-supported technologies. The lessons will align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which establish expectations for what students should know and be able to do in science.

Zoom in: The cross-campus team includes STEM TRAIL Center Research Director Tracie Reding, Ed.D.; Biomechanics Associate Professor Aaron Likens, Ph.D.; Teacher Education Associate Professor Paula Jakopovic, Ph.D.; and Teacher Education Associate Professor Michelle Friend, Ph.D.

What they’re saying:

• Brian Knarr, Principal Investigator and Associate Professor of Biomechanics: “If we want the next generation to pursue high-skill, high-wage, and high-demand careers in STEM, we have to find ways to spark their interest early. Sports give us a natural starting point because so many young people already have a passion for them. By connecting that passion to artificial intelligence, data science, and biomechanics, we can help students discover opportunities they may have never considered and build the skills they'll need to pursue them.”
• Tracie Reding, Ed.D., Co-Principal Investigator and STEM TRAIL Center Research Director: “University research is its best when we take what we're discovering on campus and put it to work in our communities. That's central to the mission of UNO's STEM TRAIL Center, where we bring researchers, educators, and community partners together to turn new knowledge into real-world opportunities. This project is an exciting example of that mission in action.”
• Neal Grandgenett, Ph.D., College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences Dean: “This project is a tremendous example of what's possible when we bring together expertise from across disciplines and departments to solve real-world challenges. By combining our strengths in biomechanics, artificial intelligence, and education, we're creating new opportunities for teachers and students that none of these fields could accomplish on their own. I'm incredibly proud of the faculty and community partners who brought this vision to life, and I'm excited to see the impact their work will have on STEM education in Nebraska and across the country.”

What's next: Once developed, the materials will be shared openly with educators nationwide, extending the project's potential reach beyond Nebraska and providing teachers with resources to bring sports-based AI and data science instruction into their own classrooms.

Award information:

• Funding amount: $749,894
• Funder: National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Award number: 2607547