Washington D.C. – The Society for Science has selected 70 extraordinary educators for its 2025–2026 Advocate Program. This program provides training, stipends and year-round support to mentors assisting students to enter science fairs and other research competitions.
Dr. Abraham Kamara from Tulsa Public Schools has been selected for the Society’s 2025–2026 Advocate Program. This year the program is providing a total of $228,000 to support mentorship of students in STEM research and competitions.
Dr. Kamara is a dedicated STEM educator and program leader with over 23 years of experience in both Africa and the United States. He currently leads the award-winning STEM program at Memorial Middle School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his students have earned national and international recognition in robotics and engineering competitions.
Dr. Kamara’s journey from a tropical rain forest village in Sierra Leone to becoming a nationally recognized science advocate reflects his passion for empowering students through STEM education.
“From the mines of Sierra Leone to the frontlines of STEM education, I am living proof that with opportunity and perseverance, any child can rise and lead the future,” Dr. Kamara said.
This year, the Society is awarding a total of $228,000 in funding, with 61 Advocates each receiving $3,000 and nine Lead Advocates each receiving $5,000. Lead Advocates mentor and support their educator cohorts, while all Advocates work to increase the number of students they guide through independent research projects and STEM competitions each year.
“Congratulations to the 2025 Advocates. Their relentless dedication to mentoring students is transforming how STEM is taught and experienced. By providing educators with resources and support to guide their students in scientific research and ultimately competing in STEM competitions, we empower the next generation to solve the world’s most intractable problems,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science and Executive Publisher of Science News. “At Society for Science, we are shaping a future where students will not just learn science, but they will lead it.”
The Society’s Advocate Program is dedicated to broadening student access to science and technology by empowering educators to mentor students in building essential research skills and a confidence in their own STEM ability. As classrooms integrate AI, data science and other emerging technologies, educators play a pivotal role in preparing students to solve urgent global challenges, invent transformative solutions and shape the future of science.
A cornerstone of the Advocate Program is the Advocate Training Institute, an intensive summer professional development experience. This year’s sessions covered cultivating student curiosity, building and promoting a high school research program, as well as fostering scientific integrity and ethical research practices. From newcomers learning the ropes to seasoned leaders expanding their reach, Advocates are setting ambitious goals to increase student participation in STEM competitions, guiding students from research question to competition entry while managing logistics and deadlines.
Advocates this year hail from 34 states and Puerto Rico. Twenty-two mentor middle school students, thirty-eight mentor high school students, and ten mentor students across all grade levels. This year’s Advocates reach students across a diverse range of geographic locations, with 59 in public schools, 2 in private schools and 9 in charter or other types of schools.
In total, 439 teachers from 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and the Mariana Islands have participated in the program. Since its inception in 2015, the Advocate Program has been a key part of the Society’s outreach initiatives, building and connecting a national community of STEM and research educators.
To date, Advocates have supported more than 8,335 students during their participation in the program, of which 6,039 students have successfully competed in at least one science research competition. During the 2024-2025 cycle, 76% percent of student mentees participated in science competitions at the local and/or national level. Overall, students of Advocates are responsible for over 11,000 unique competition entries, with many students entering more than one competition.
This year’s Advocate Program is made possible by Arconic Foundation, Battelle, DoD STEM through the Defense STEM Education Consortium, and Regeneron.
Explore the profiles of this year’s Advocates here: https://www.societyforscience.org/stem-outreach-programs/advocate-program/meet/2025-26/
Society for Science is a champion for science, dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Established in 1921, Society for Science is best known for its award-winning journalism through Science News and Science News Explores, its world-class science research competitions for students, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge, and its STEM Outreach programming that seeks to ensure that all students have an opportunity to pursue a career in STEM. A 501(c)(3) membership organization, Society for Science is committed to inform, educate and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).