Collaborative Research: Bridging Expertise: Translation and Diffusion of Knowledge, Resources, and Practices in STEM Education

Diffusion and translation are made even more complicated because educators and policymakers often rely on limited networks, restricting access to diverse, high-quality knowledge, resources, and practices (KRP). This project aims to make progress in this area by examining the role of knowledge brokers—organizations and individuals who facilitate the dissemination of KRP—with a focus on STEM education. Utilizing social network analysis, machine learning, and qualitative data analysis, this study investigates the structures and dynamics of brokers’ relational ecosystems that connect online and offline spaces, as well as microlevel and mesolevel networks, in order to identify effective strategies for translation and diffusion. The findings will help strengthen evidence-based decision-making in STEM education and beyond.