Join Science Across America Cohort 2: Free Resources and No Requirements!

As America celebrates its 250-year anniversary, HHMI Tangled Bank Studios and STAR Net have launched a new campaign to help libraries highlight the history of scientific achievement in our country, and the local connections to science in our communities. SCIENCE ACROSS AMERICA, the newest campaign from Spark of Science@ My Library, invites libraries to showcase local scientific advances and scientists, engage your communities with focused Community Dialogues, and host educational and inspirational activities that shine a light on the past, present, and future of science in our lives. 115 Partner Libraries have already been chosen for this project, but we’re now opening applications for cohort 2, who will receive free resources, with only optional reporting requirements! Libraries that register for cohort 2 will receive a Science Across America map for their state or territory, project logo stickers, and sticky notes to facilitate patrons adding their own “moments in science” to your state/territories map and other resources listed at the end of this blog post.

Libraries will also gain access to edit our Science Across America digital map, where libraries across the nation are highlighting their local science achievements. You can view the map here: https://www.scigames.org/ScienceAcrossAmerica/Map/ You will receive credentials to edit the map and join the online community no more than 2 weeks after registering.

Participating libraries will have no required reporting, however, libraries who submit a brief program report will be entered to win one of 3 Science Across America/NASA@ My Library facilitation kits full of science tools and activities!

The deadline to register is July 1st 2026, to ensure adequate time to ship maps. Please note the maps and other supplementary materials will also be available online if you wish to use them sooner. 

Since its founding, the United States has been a leader in scientific discovery; exploring questions in fields as diverse as biology, physics, medicine and more. Science has resulted in breakthroughs that positively affect our lives in innumerable ways. From the light bulb to the Human Genome Project to the GPS, science has driven us forward, and discoveries have been made by teams from every corner of the country. SCIENCE ACROSS AMERICA gives us the chance to celebrate both the globally game-changing discoveries themselves, and the local researchers who may be toiling on the latest breakthroughs right up the street.

To shine a light on American scientific innovation, participating libraries will facilitate Community Dialogues and create events and activities that feature the past, present and future of scientific innovation in their communities, counties, and states. Using a robust suite of customizable activities and materials, they’ll help their patrons explore the impact of important scientific advances, unpack how science gets done, and connect with the science and the scientists in their communities. View the full Press Release for the project HERE.

A kickoff webinar for cohort 2 is scheduled for June 11th. This call is optional and will be recorded. You can register below:

When: Jun 11, 2026 02:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Dl6fwMMMR6W2iNQIeb4qRg

All Cohort 2 Libraries Will Receive –

• Access to Digital Informal Activity Guides – Created by STAR Net and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios including curated materials related to basic science areas
• Physical and Digital “StoryWall” poster/display to print and document your community’s science story
• Digital How-To Guide for hosting Science-Centered Community Dialogues, including a new Teen-led Dialogue Guide developed for Science Across America!
• Promotional Materials (digital) to publicize your events
• Access to award-winning HHMI Tangled Bank films that feature community-based science and local scientists from across the country
• Access to virtual programs with scientists hosted by Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants

To register to participate in Cohort 2, please follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LC56BF3