Ellis and Straight
A National Science Foundation panel awarded two WMU professors for their big ideas that aimed to shape the future of science, technology, engineering and math research nationwide.
Dr. Todd Ellis, assistant professor of geography and science education, and Dr. Bilinda Straight, professor of anthropology and women's studies, each received $1,000 cash prizes for their entries in the NSF Idea Machine 2026 competition. Their ideas were among 12 selected for advancement to a Blue Ribbon panel—pared down from 800 submitted by institutions across the country, including Harvard, Columbia and Duke. They were not, however, selected for grand prize consideration.
“We’re extremely proud of the innovative next level ideas of our faculty members developed to help shape the future of STEM," says Dr. Terri Goss Kinzy, vice president for research and innovation. "It's a huge accomplishment for WMU to receive two of the 12 Blue Ribbon panel slots and see the world-class work our researchers are doing being recognized on a national stage.”
Ellis's idea, The STEM Teaching and Learning Incubator, focused on empowering K-12 educators to develop new approaches to teaching and learning STEM disciplines by providing a regional hub for instructors that offers support for design, implementation, evaluation and dissemination of their ideas. He also won the top award in the internal Bronco Big Idea competition.
Straight's idea, Reversibility: Future of Life on Earth, asked how the reversibility, irreversibility and tipping points of different types of systems are determined and how this could potentially impact the future of life on earth. Addressing this question requires novel ways to examine interconnections between systems that may include human experience and motivation.