Today, The Ohio State University announced it will build a student-centered and technology-rich space designed to facilitate and promote STEM learning. Thanks to $700,000 in grants from Meta’s New Albany Data Center,the space will be named the Meta STEM Instruction Innovation Hub for three years and will become operational in 2026. 

“As proud members of the Franklin and Licking County community, we are thrilled to partner with Ohio State University and provide students with access to cutting-edge learning environments and opportunities that will help them succeed in STEM-related fields,” said Amanda Miller, community regional development manager at Meta. “We are excited to see how the STEM Instruction Innovation Hub will help develop the next generation of Ohio’s tech-driven workforce.”

The Meta STEM Instruction Innovation Hub will accommodate 150 active learners in a single classroom. It will benefit 1,200 math and chemistry students per semester, and once expanded to all STEM fields, it will support 16,000 students per year. 

“The Meta gift will provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for our STEM students.  This will benefit our students greatly,” said Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Susan Olesik.

The Hub is part of the STEM Instruction Innovation Enterprise, a visionary endeavor to holistically transform and elevate STEM education at Ohio State.Located in Ramseyer Hall, the STEM Instruction Innovation Enterprise already features the Amgen STEM Learning Center, a state-of-the-art tutoring facility that came online in 2024.  Once complete, the STEM Instruction Innovation Enterprise will include the Meta STEM Instruction Innovation Hub along with two other large-scale active learning spaces, each at approximately 4,000 sq. ft. 

Unlike traditional lecture halls, the Hubs allow students to work in teams at round tables seating 6-8. Group activity is heavily supported by technology. Each table is outfitted with a laptop and a glass whiteboard; LCD monitors are mounted on adjacent walls for displaying and reporting the team’s work. These changes in classroom structure, coupled with transformed STEM curricula, will provide a future-ready workforce for Ohio. The STEM Instruction Innovation Enterprise is expected to become fully operational in the 2026-27 academic year.

Already home to several technology companies including Meta, Ohio has become a preferred site of expansion for international STEM-related corporations.  The STEM Instruction Innovation Enterprise allows instructors to further develop their active learning and inclusive instructional skills to improve educational outcomes and drive STEM workforce development for Ohio. 

“We are excited to partner with Meta to support the academic success of students from all backgrounds in our introductory STEM courses,” said College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Horn. “Evidence shows that students who experience the benefits of active learning in early classes are more likely to persist in STEM fields and to graduate on time, fueling the needs of Ohio’s economy. We are grateful to Meta for their vision and commitment.”

For media inquiries, please contact Shantay Piazza at piazza.31@osu.edu.