Catherine McCarthy works for Arizona State University as the Project Manager Senior for the National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network) in the Center for Innovation in Informal STEM Learning (CIISL) in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society.
McCarthy has more than twenty years of experience developing, implementing, and studying STEM learning and public engagement on a variety of science and technology topics.
McCarthy plays a leadership role in National Informal STEM Education Network (NISE Network) a community of informal educators and scientists dedicated to supporting learning about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) across the United States.
Project topics include: sparking Interest in STEM among Hispanic learners (NASA, $1 million, 2023-2026, co-I), engaging Hispanic communities in NASA science (NASA, $5.8 million, 2022-2025), STEM Learning Ecosystems (NASA, $4.9 million, 2021-2025), exploring the solar system (NASA, $1million, 2021-2024), Earth and space science (NASA, $14.5 million, 2016-2023, co-I), build a Mars habitat exhibit (NASA, $1 million, 2020-2022, PI/co-I), Moon adventure game (NASA, $.8 million, 2019-2021), chemistry (NSF, $2.9 million, 2016-2021), nanoscale science (NSF, $40 million, 2006-2016), synthetic biology (NSF, $2.1 million, 2014-2017), and sustainability (Rob and Melani Walton Foundation).
McCarthy has worked on NISE Network projects focused on increasing the capacity of informal science educators to engage local communities and broaden participation in STEM. Hands-on activity kits with educational materials and professional learning resources distributed to up to 350 partners nationwide include: Voyage through the Solar System (2023), Moon Adventure Game (2020), Explore Science: Earth & Space (2018-2020), Explore Science: Let’s Do Chemistry (2018), Frankenstein200 (2018), Building with Biology (2016), SustainABLE (2016), Museum & Community Partnership Explore Science (2016), NanoDays (2008-2015).
She has also provided content and technical oversight of the nisenet.org website for informal science education professionals and oversaw the application and award processes for mini-grants, kits, and exhibitions.
While serving as Project Leader at the Science Museum of Minnesota, McCarthy provided oversight and leadership for several aspects of NISE Network projects including the development and distribution of the Sun, Earth Universe exhibition (52 copies installed nationwide) and the 400-square-foot Nano exhibition (93 copies installed nationwide).
In her prior role as Grant Projects Director at the Sciencenter in Ithaca, NY she managed a variety of exhibition and educational projects as well as overseeing the traveling exhibitions program. Projects included It's a Nano World: Smaller than a Spot on a Ladybug traveling exhibition, Too Small to See: Zoom into Nanotechnology traveling exhibition, Mars and Stars astronomy exhibition, Sagan Planet Walk asteroid station, Chemistry Challenge activities, creative re-use Reinvention Station, health exhibits, and integrated pest management exhibits.
Prior to joining the museum field, she worked for local government agencies and nonprofits in environmental management, solid waste, hazardous waste, and pollution prevention. She served on the board of directors of several non-profit organizations including formerly serving as President of Board of the Cayuga Nature Center.
She holds a BS from Cornell University in natural resources and environmental engineering technology and an MS and PhD from UC Davis in ecology, focusing on environmental policy analysis and planning.