During his term as Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation (1988-1990), William Wulf advocated for leveraging of expertise beyond institutional and disciplinary boundaries.  This concept quickly came to be known as a collaboratory.

The science + education collaboratory is an extension of Wulf’s vision.  Here collaboratory – a contraction the words “collaboration” and “laboratory” – is envisioned as a space in which the expertise of scientists, K-12 formal and informal educators, and education researchers is exchanged in order to identify and effectively address overlapping national initiatives. Strides and challenges associated with long-standing efforts to integrate "authentic science" in K-12 settings help define impactful courses of collective action.

The science + education collaboratory organizes events and disseminates opportunities to facilitate interdisciplinary work. An advisory committee composed of professionals representing each discipline guides the collaboratory's development.