SCIENCE ACROSS AMERICA: New Opportunity for Libraries!

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.

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.

Pre-Application Webinar 

An optional pre-application webinar where we will discuss the application and answer any questions will be held on December 3rd, 2025 at 1pm PT/2pm MT/3pm CT/4pm ET. You may register for the webinar at this link. 

View the Pre-Application Webinar Recording Here: (will add once available!)

Selection Criteria  

Our goal for this initiative is to be as inclusive and diverse as possible, with opportunities and participants from all backgrounds and in all parts of the country. We will be choosing at least 2 libraries from each US State and Territory, with a few additional spots available for larger states. State libraries are eligible to apply if you can commit to hosting the required public programs. Priority will be given to libraries that form strong partnerships with other local organizations–relationships that we hope will last beyond this campaign. Libraries and partners should work together to develop meaningful and creative ways to engage their communities in local and regional science. Ideal candidates are committed to growing their communities’ connection to local science and using that science content as a fun, effective tool for hands-on engagement. 

110 Chosen Libraries Will Each Receive

• $500 honorarium to help cover the cost of events and program outreach  

• A printed “StoryWall” poster/display to document your community’s science story

• Informal Activity Guides – Created by STAR Net including curated materials related to basic science areas

• How-To Guide for hosting science-centered Community Dialogues
• Support from STAR Net staff to host your own Community Dialogues
• Access to a digital map (that you will help populate!) that highlights key scientific advances and allows libraries to showcase the local science that matters to their communities

• 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
• Access to hundreds of scientific experts through The Science and Entertainment Exchange (a program of the National Academy of Sciences)

All Interested Libraries Will Receive – FREE DIGITAL  

• Informal Activity Guides – Created by STAR Net and HHMI Tangled Bank Studios including curated materials related to basic science areas
• Digital “StoryWall” poster/display to print and document your community’s science story
• How-To Guide for hosting Science-Centered Community Dialogues
• Access to a digital map (that you will help populate!) that highlights key scientific advances and allows libraries to showcase the local science that matters to their communities
• 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

Selected Libraries Will Be Expected To…  

• Host a minimum of two public engagement events in Spring/Summer 2026 
• Host at least one Community Dialogue event to support partnership building and learning about science happening in your community
• Collaborate with at least one local partner (Nature Center, Astronomy Club, Local Audubon Chapter, Local PBS Station, School, Summer Camp, National Park, etc.) on your events.  
• Contribute at least five scientific achievements that have happened or are happening in your state or territory to the digital map.
• Curate and display a collection of books related to the history of science in America, and the science topics relevant to your community.   
• Participate in an online community to brainstorm ideas and share updates about your events and outcomes.  
• Record and report information about event attendance, engagement demographics, and community activation.  
• Participate in a post-program survey about their community engagement and resource uptake.  
• (Optional) participate in at least one Acts of Science: CONNECTED! livestream event in April 2026 during Citizen Science Month. In partnership with SciStarter.org, these weekly virtual events invite communities to come together at the library and contribute to the national goal of 2.50 Million Acts of Science in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. (More info can be found here)

To apply, please follow this link to the brief application. All forms are due by December 27th, 2025. We look forward to your applications and to working with you on a fun and impactful outreach initiative! We plan on announcing the chosen libraries by the 2nd week of January.

Instructions

Your application will be submitted through the Survey Monkey platform (link)

The following link contains the questions that you will encounter on the application form. We recommend that you type these in a word document ahead of time and enter all at once into the application form. Questions HERE. 

We have also included in a separate document the rubric with which your application will be reviewed, as well as an application FAQ. Please review these documents closely. Our intention is to provide you with all the tools necessary to write a compelling proposal.

Rubric HERE.

FAQ HERE