Our Story

Future Education Research Network, Inc., also known as FERN is a Boston-based non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the understanding of STEAM, multilingual, and multicultural education in classrooms throughout the globe. We firmly believe in the transformative power of using empirically based research to influence learning practices that forge a more inclusive and just society. With this mission in mind, our distinguished researchers and passionate educators seek to develop culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogical practices, tools, and curricula that meet the demands of 21st-century learning and the needs of students in this modern global society.

STEAM education is a unique interdisciplinary integration of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics in the classroom. Multilingual education focuses on the means of teaching multiple languages, using language to learn, and integrating language and content to communicate knowledge. Multicultural education recognizes and respects cultural differences at school, using difference to enrich curriculum and valuing difference from an asset mindset to build knowledge. When these forms of education are effectively put into practice together, students and teachers develop cultural competencies, sharpen critical thinking skills, cultivate creativity, and learn to communicate and problem-solve, all of which are necessary skills and characteristics for success in the modern world. We therefore strive to investigate and innovate these areas to empower pupils to thrive in life and educators to grow as professionals.

We strive to find actionable means of implementing our findings into practice with an emphasis on uplifting marginalized and underrepresented communities of learners and the educators who work with them to promote equity in the classroom all the while developing solutions to some of the most pressing issues in education to foster change. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our calling to make a difference and how you can contribute to our mission.