American Indian Science and Engineering Society

American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Name	American Indian Science and Engineering Society
Abbreviation	AISES
Formation	1977
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Albuquerque, New Mexico
Region served	United States, Canada

American Indian Science and Engineering Society The American Indian Science and Engineering Society is a nonprofit organization promoting Native American and Alaska Native participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through scholarships, mentorship, and outreach. Founded in 1977 following collaborations among tribal leaders, university faculty, and federal agencies, the society has grown into a national network connecting students, professionals, and institutions across reservations, urban centers, and campuses.

History

The founding arose from meetings that included representatives from University of New Mexico, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and tribal education directors, building on precedents set by organizations such as the American Indian Movement and initiatives linked to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Early organizers drew inspiration from conferences at Albuquerque and collaborations with faculty from Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley; subsequent decades saw partnerships with agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of Energy. Expansion in the 1980s and 1990s paralleled growth in programs at institutions such as Arizona State University, University of Arizona, Colorado School of Mines, and connections with professional societies like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Chemical Society, and American Society of Civil Engineers. In the 21st century the organization has interfaced with initiatives at Smithsonian Institution, Smith College, Princeton University, and tribal colleges such as Diné College and Salish Kootenai College.

Mission and Programs

The society’s mission emphasizes increasing Native Hawaiian and Indigenous representation in STEM fields through scholarships, internships, and academic support, working with partners such as the National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, United States Geological Survey, and corporate partners like Boeing, Intel, and Google. Programs include scholarship administration modeled after practices at Ford Foundation, career development influenced by the National Society of Black Engineers and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, and mentorship networks aligned with efforts at American Association for the Advancement of Science and National Science Teachers Association. Outreach initiatives coordinate with tribal education programs at Haskell Indian Nations University, workforce development at Diné College, and community science efforts related to the Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service.

Conferences and Events

The society hosts an annual national conference that gathers students, professionals, and educators alongside exhibitors from organizations such as Lockheed Martin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and academic recruiters from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Los Angeles, and Cornell University. The conference features career fairs, technical symposia, and cultural programming drawing speakers who have affiliations with Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of the American Indian, Native American Rights Fund, and research programs at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Regional events and leadership workshops connect chapters associated with institutions like University of Washington, Oregon State University, Montana State University, and tribal communities including Navajo Nation and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

Chapters and Membership

Chapters operate on campuses such as University of New Mexico, Arizona State University, University of North Dakota, and University of Minnesota, as well as in tribal colleges including Turtle Mountain Community College and Sitting Bull College; professional affiliates include employees at Sandia National Laboratories and Department of Energy national laboratories. Membership categories span student, professional, and affiliate tiers, with collaborations involving student groups like Society of Women Engineers and honor societies such as Sigma Xi. Outreach to urban Indian centers, veterans served by Veterans Affairs, and K–12 programs ties the membership to networks including National Congress of American Indians and regional education departments.

Governance and Funding

Governance is overseen by a board of directors elected from member representatives, working with an executive director and staff based in Albuquerque; the organization liaises with advisory councils that include leaders from Tribal Colleges and Universities and corporate partners such as ExxonMobil and Microsoft. Funding sources include grants from foundations like the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, project awards from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, corporate sponsorships from firms such as Chevron and Raytheon Technologies, and revenue from conference fees and scholarship endowments inspired by models at Rockefeller Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Notable Alumni and Impact

Alumni have gone on to careers at institutions and companies including NASA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories, Boeing, Google, Apple Inc., and academia at Harvard University, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. Notable members have held leadership roles in tribal governments such as Navajo Nation presidential offices and advocacy organizations like the National Congress of American Indians and Native American Rights Fund, and have contributed to research published via partnerships with National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and university presses at Oxford University Press. The society’s influence is visible in increased Native enrollment at STEM programs at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, and University of Michigan, and in workforce pipelines into federal labs including Argonne National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Category:Native American organizations Category:Science and technology organizations of the United States