Smithsonian NESST Latin American Teacher Ambassadors Fellowship Program for Educators, USA
The Smithsonian NESST Latin American Teacher Ambassadors Program is a virtual international professional development initiative designed for K–12 educators across Latin America. Led by the Smithsonian Science Education Center, the program is part of the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST), which focuses on innovative teaching methods in science, sustainability, and global education.
This fellowship-style program connects teachers from different Latin American countries to collaborate on real-world educational challenges, improve classroom practices, and engage with Smithsonian-led learning resources. The program runs fully online and is conducted in Spanish, making it accessible to educators across the region without requiring travel.
Scholarship / Program Summary
- Program Name: Smithsonian NESST Latin American Teacher Ambassadors Program
- Host Organization: Smithsonian Science Education Center
- Initiative: Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST)
- Program Type: Virtual professional development fellowship
- Duration: 11 months (June to April cycle)
- Mode: Online (fully virtual)
- Eligible Region: Latin America
- Selection Size: 25 teachers per cohort
- Language: Spanish
- Commitment: Approximately 10 hours per month
Program Overview
The NESST Teacher Ambassadors Program aims to transform how science and sustainability are taught in schools by promoting socio-scientific thinking. Instead of traditional teaching methods, educators are encouraged to integrate real-world global challenges such as:
- Climate change
- Environmental sustainability
- Scientific ethics
- Social systems and global development
Participants collaborate with educators, scientists, and curriculum experts to design innovative learning approaches for classrooms.
Degree Level
This is not a degree program. It is a professional development opportunity for:
- Primary school teachers (K–12)
- Secondary school teachers (K–12)
- Educators from all subject areas
Available Subjects
Applicants do not need to be science teachers. The program is open to educators from:
- Science and STEM education
- Social sciences
- Humanities
- Arts and interdisciplinary studies
- Environmental education
Benefits
Selected Teacher Ambassadors receive several professional and academic benefits, including:
- Collaboration with educators across Latin America
- Access to Smithsonian educational materials and resources
- Training in socio-scientific and sustainability education
- Opportunity to contribute to curriculum development
- International networking with experts and innovators
- Professional growth in global education practices
- Experience in virtual cross-cultural collaboration
Eligible Nationalities
Open to educators from Latin American countries, including but not limited to:
- ArArgentina
- Brazil
- Colombia
- Mexico
- Panama
- Other Latin American nations
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be K–12 educators currently teaching in Latin America
- Have strong interest in sustainability and global education
- Be willing to collaborate in international virtual teams
- Commit to the full 11-month program
- Be fluent in Spanish (program language requirement)
- Demonstrate motivation for educational innovation
Program Structure
The program is divided into multiple phases:
- Orientation and onboarding (June–July)
- Professional development using Smithsonian resources (August–September)
- Community building and collaboration (October–December)
- Group project development (December–April)
- Final presentations and program closure (March–April)
Application Procedure
- Complete the online application form
- Provide details about teaching experience and motivation
- Demonstrate interest in socio-scientific education
- Submit required documents as requested
- Await selection results for the final cohort
Only 25 educators are selected, making the program highly competitive.
Application Deadline
The final date to apply is May 25, 2026.
