After more than two decades teaching science at Worcester Technical High School, Jocelyn Coughlin spends the coming school year working to get more of her students out of the textbook and into original scientific research.
Coughlin has been selected for Society for Science’s 2026-27 Advocate Program, a national initiative that trains and supports educators who mentor students conducting independent research and help them bring that work into science competitions.
The Worcester Tech biology teacher and longtime science department chair is one of 100 educators nationwide selected for this year’s program, according to an announcement from Society for Science. She will receive a $3,000 stipend along with year-round professional development, training and mentorship.
For Coughlin, who founded Worcester Tech’s first science fair, the opportunity is particularly focused on helping students who might not otherwise see scientific research — or themselves as scientists — as within reach.
“I am truly honored and excited to be selected as a Society for Science Advocate, as this program provides year-long professional development, training and mentorship to help educators expand student access to authentic scientific research experiences,” Coughlin said in the organization’s announcement.
“This opportunity will directly impact my students by allowing me to better guide them through real-world research and support their entry into STEM competitions, particularly for those who may not traditionally have access to these opportunities,” she added. “I am especially excited to empower more students to see themselves as scientists, build confidence in their abilities, and pursue future pathways in STEM.”
Coughlin has taught at Worcester Technical High School for more than 24 years and has chaired its science department for the past decade, according to Society for Science. In addition to teaching biology, she leads curriculum development, instructional improvement and STEM initiatives at the school.
Her selection places Worcester Tech within a nationwide network designed to help students move from experimenting and researching in the classroom to presenting their work beyond it.
Advocates help students identify appropriate science competitions, navigate applications and deadlines, and learn how to communicate their research. Among the competitions associated with Society for Science are the Regeneron Science Talent Search, Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.
“The most powerful way to expand opportunity for young people is to invest in the educators who recognize their potential and help turn their curiosity into discovery,” Maya Ajmera, president and CEO of Society for Science and executive publisher of Science News, said in the announcement.
This year, Society for Science is investing $326,000 in the Advocate Program. The cohort includes 87 Advocates, including Coughlin, who receive $3,000 stipends, and 13 Lead Advocates receiving $5,000 each. The lead educators will mentor other participants in regional groups throughout the year.
The new cohort gathered in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer for the organization’s Advocate Training Institute. According to the announcement, educators participated in workshops covering topics including the use of NASA archival data for astronomy research, building community partnerships and connecting students with science competitions.
Since the Advocate Program began, 439 educators have participated, collectively working with more than 9,100 students. More than 6,700 of those students have submitted more than 12,000 entries to STEM competitions, according to Society for Science.
For Coughlin, the program builds on work already underway at Worcester Tech, where her approach has focused on hands-on science and connecting classroom lessons to real-world applications.
Now, the goal is to help more Worcester students take the next step: developing research of their own and finding a place to show what they can do.
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