Our Future Is Science

OUR FUTURE IS SCIENCE Use science to change your community.

Launched in 2021, Our Future Is Science (OFIS), an initiative of the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program, connects high school students with scientist-mentors, builds real-world skills, and supports them in creating projects that address challenges in their communities.

Our Mission is to equip young people to apply science to real-world challenges in their communities through mentorship, applied learning, and leadership development.

CREATING COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS THROUGH STEM

Oko Farms’ sustainable agriculture mitigates the impact of climate change, and increases food security for New York City.

Life Saving Dot restores iodine balance for women in rural India to prevent disease through a bindi, the traditional ornamental dot worn by Hindu and other women.

Fashion designers, like those at the company Public School, are shaking up the industry through innovative ways like respinning fabric so few natural resources are used, thus protecting the environment.

Creative engineering is used to develop portable flood barriers to protect millions of low-income and people of color who live near flood zones.

Many of the challenges communities face—from health to environment to infrastructure—are scientific and technical in nature. OFIS equips young people with the STEM skills, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences needed to understand these challenges and develop real-world, community-based solutions.

We develop students through a structured pathway—from exploration to application to leadership—equipping them to use STEM to understand and address real-world challenges.

HOW OFIS WORKS

Explore

Explore your community, identify local challenges, and begin to understand them through the lens of the scientific method, supported by OFIS Community Talks and mentor-led lab tours.

Apply

Work with graduate-level scientist-mentors to apply the scientific method, use tools and strategies, engage stakeholders, and develop evidence-based solutions to local challenges.

Lead

Continue and share your work, engage with the OFIS community, and grow as a leader in both scientific and local communities.

THE OFIS EXPERIENCE

Through the OFIS Pathway—Explore, Apply, and Lead—students build the skills and experience to use science in real-world contexts. OFIS begins with students' understanding of their communities—defined broadly by geography, shared experiences, and common challenges—and supports them in using science to engage with and address the issues that matter most.

When young people are given the tools to engage with science, they are better equipped to understand their communities, ask critical questions, and develop solutions that create meaningful change.

What Participants Do

Work in mentorship teams with graduate-level scientists
Investigate real challenges in their communities
Design, implement, and present Science Engagement Projects

What You Gain

A $1,000 honorarium for participation
A completed project
Mentorship from scientists
Skills in research, communication, and leadership
Opportunities to present work and expand your network

OUR IMPACT

Across the country, OFIS participants are using science to understand and address challenges in their communities.

From local projects to national engagement, OFIS is building a growing network of science-informed leaders. This impact is reflected in the program’s reach and continued growth:

950,000+ engagements across digital campaigns, programming, and national outreach
645+ learning experiences (e.g., mentorship team Meetings, OFIS Community Talks, Workshops, and more
700+ applicants from across the U.S., reflecting growing national demand
2024 Falling Walls Foundation Science Engagement Award winner

SUPPORTERS

Current

PAST

FOUNDING

To inquire about sponsorship and partnership opportunities,
please contact info@ourfutureisscience.org.

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