Our Programs
The CTE Science Alliance advances its mission through four integrated program areas — each designed to generate tangible, shareable proof that CTE is applied science and to build the public narrative that makes that case stick.
CTE Teach-Ins
CTE students go into elementary and middle school classrooms — and teach real science.
In each Teach-In, high school or postsecondary CTE students lead a hands-on applied science lesson they design themselves. Lessons draw directly on what they are learning: an electrical student has kids build a simple circuit to explore electron flow and conductivity; a construction student runs a structural load challenge connecting materials science to how buildings stay standing; a process technology student demonstrates density and miscibility to show how refineries separate crude oil into useful products.
Each event runs about an hour. CTE students leave with formal recognition for their portfolios and take-home material for their parents, host teachers are surveyed on their likelihood of incorporating more applied science, and every Teach-In is built to generate earned media — the human-interest stories that shift how a community thinks about CTE.
Cross-Industry Convenings
The CTE Science Alliance convenes leaders from trade associations, major employers, education institutions, and policy organizations to share emerging research, compare workforce challenges, and develop shared strategies for advancing applied science in CTE. These convenings are curated roundtables of senior leaders, anchored in our science mapping findings and structured to allow real conversation rather than prepared remarks. Participants leave with concrete takeaways for their teams and with relationships to peer leaders from industries fighting the same battle. These are not conferences; they are working sessions designed to produce insight and action that no single industry could generate alone.
Science Mapping
Most people have never asked what specific scientific concepts are taught in a CTE classroom. We have — and the answer is remarkable.
The CTE Science Alliance creates science maps for CTE pathways: clear, visual breakdowns of the scientific concepts in each course. A process technology program, for example, draws on thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and chemical reaction principles; construction programs embed structural physics, materials science, and soil mechanics; welding programs cover metallurgy, electrochemistry, and heat transfer.
These maps give educators and families a concrete, evidence-based answer to “is this rigorous?” They give industry partners a shareable asset that links their talent pipeline to scientific knowledge and give policymakers a clear view of the STEM value already embedded in CTE.
Infographics & Reports
Science maps become visual products — infographics and reports designed to travel across industry communications, social media, and policy channels. These are assets industry partners can use immediately in member newsletters, on Capitol Hill, in recruitment materials, and in media outreach.
Every infographic is built from the science mapping work and designed to be industry-specific, accessible, and shareable. A petrochemical association gets a visual that highlights the science inside process technology; a construction association gets one that surfaces the physics and materials science in their trades. The underlying science stays rigorous; the framing is tailored to the audience that matters most.