The present-day Gulf of Mexico has long been known for its amazing diversity of sharks, rays, and skates. Join the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to learn a little known fact: Alabama leads the nation in extinct and extant shark species! Learn about and "dig" through coastal Alabama's geologic history!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about the paleontological history of northern Gulf of Mexico sharks, and why Alabama is a hot bed of past and present shark species, while giving attendees a chance to be amateur paleontologists by sieving their own northern Gulf coastal sands for evidence of this diversity.

SPEAKERS:
Greg Graeber (Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Dauphin Island, AL)

Experience a variety of engaging STEM activities that can be done in any science content class in 45 minutes or less.

TAKEAWAYS:
Expose your students to STEM skills through short, easy, and engaging STEM activities that can be completed in a single class period.

SPEAKERS:
Brad Posnanski (Comsewogue High School: Port Jefferson Station, NY), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

In this interactive lesson, participants become health advocates, analyzing and interpreting scientific research to propose effective solutions for barriers to prenatal care access.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive session, participants will use scientific research to uncover how socioeconomic factors and policies impact healthcare while developing a deeper appreciation for the intersection of science and society and the role of scientific knowledge in addressing societal needs.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Burkart (Estrella Mountain Community College: Avondale, AZ)

Engage in hands-on learning! Explore wind energy's pros/cons and then design, and test windmills made with recycled materials. Take away a ready-to-use lesson adaptable for grades 4-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave equipped with a student-tested wind energy lesson, incorporating hands-on activities and collaborative learning, adaptable for grades 4-12, fostering a deeper understanding of renewable energy concepts aligned with NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler (Switch Classroom: Pittsburgh, PA)

Come have fun collecting real data to investigate the relationship between altitude and pressure using a micro:bit and a Grove sensor. We will walk through the Python code, collect the data and investigate the relationship through mathematical models, squeezing as much as we can out of our work.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience the marriage of science and mathematics by using the micro:bit and a Grove sensor to collect real pressure data to analyze. We will spend time creating and using mathematical models so that we can better understand the relationship between altitude and pressure.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Pennell (High Point University: High Point, NC, NC)

In small groups, participants will design and brainstorm lesson and building ideas for a 4-person, human-powered, amphibious vehicles. Workshop facilitator brings the experience of 5 years of participating and 4 awards (engineering and art) at the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will grow in their confidence to approach large-scale engineering design projects regardless of their experience level.

SPEAKERS:
Mick Scott (CS and Engineering Teacher / Former K-12 STEM Director / Mind Mastery Coach: Reisterstown, MD)

Collaborating with regional workforce enhances the depth of career-focused education, forging valuable connections for both sides. Explore how the LASTEM initiative seamlessly integrates career exploration across K-20 classrooms, empowering learners with practical skills and real-world insights.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave equipped with the knowledge of key contacts within corporations for effective outreach projects. Additionally, they'll grasp the significance of aligning lesson plans with career exploration to deepen student comprehension.

SPEAKERS:
Clint Coleman (Louisiana Board of Regents: New Orleans, LA)

STEM4Real aims to reduce absenteeism by involving students in solving real-world environmental issues through multidisciplinary projects that elevate high school senior's passion projects with the community and align their vision to service learning and environmental issues that drive the learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding that integrating service learning with environmental issues can significantly enhance student engagement and reduce absenteeism. By involving high school seniors in real-world projects that require civic engagement, educators can make learning more relevant and impactful.

SPEAKERS:
Neotha Williams (STEM4Real: Addis, LA), Jennifer Munoz (STEM4Real: Carlsbad, CA)

Integrating authentic and meaningful hands-on maker projects into science classes can be challenging, but rewarding for both students and teachers. These types of projects offer us the opportunity to alternatively assess student learning, infuse creativity, and focus on student choice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will participate in the engineering and design process and will leave with successful example projects, a working knowledge of the project-design process and can utilize the various strategies for implementation of maker projects in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Bischoff (Rye Country Day School: Rye, NY)

The various metals and alloys used in the minting of the US penny over the years will provide for rich explorations. We will share activities that combine some very basic lab activities conducted by some of our chemistry classes with detailed mathematical modeling done by the students in statistics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will collect and use real data to develop mathematical models and learn how to test our hypothesis by performing an experiment and analyzing the results, combining chemical analysis with statistical sampling for a cross-curricular approach.

SPEAKERS:
Karlheinz Haas (retired: Tequesta, FL)

Produce a public release image of a supernova remnant using NASA X-ray data both by hand and with Js9 web-based imaging software with this STEAM activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Scientists learn about astronomical objects from the light they produce. Colors in images are based on data from this light and are used to highlight different features.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Perry (Lewiston High School: Brunswick, ME)

Are you looking for an opportunity to bring free hands-on engineering experiences to your students? The labs available work for biology, environmental science and physical science classes with cross curricular application in math.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop, teachers will don their student caps as an engineer guides us through Engineering Tomorrow’s most popular lab - Phototherapy! Teachers will have an opportunity to register for this free program during this workshop and leave with a goodie bag of supplies!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Maggio (Stuyvesant High School: New York, NY)

Encountered something you want to buy? Use a bite-sized approach to literacy to discuss the nature of scientific research. This lesson is designed for a high school science course. You will leave with selected literature and a lesson plan that is all about asking questions and scientific discourse.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to engage in asking scientific questions and will be able to participate in discourse using literature and a phenomenon common to people of various backgrounds. They will leave with a lesson plan and associated materials to implement in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Summer Landreth (educator: Anderson, SC), Brooke Whitworth (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Ashley Hunter (Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant: Clemson, SC)

Use STEM web-based analysis software and basic physics gravitation and centripetal acceleration equations to determine if a stellar core is a white dwarf or neutron star.

TAKEAWAYS:
Light curves generated from web-based js9 image analysis software can be used to determine the period of rotation and identify objects as white dwarfs or pulsars using Newton’s Universal Law of gravitation and centripetal acceleration calculations.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Perry (Lewiston High School: Brunswick, ME)

Density of Stellar Materials is a hands-on interactive workshop that focuses on understanding density and volume, through a series of practical tests, working out the simulation of stellar materials low and high density as they undergo the life cycle of stars.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to collect data through measurement and use number skills in a practical context. This workshop incorporates math and science comparing the results with observational surveying.

SPEAKERS:
Vernita Adkins (LSU-LIGO Physics and Astronomy Demos (LLPAD): Baton Rouge, LA)

Empower students to take action with an in-depth study of biodiversity and sustainability of urban forests. Use iNaturalist’s Seek App and analyze data from a comprehensive study to examine challenges to urban forests’ sustainability and advocate for communities by developing possible solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
A lesson that can be used with students to use understanding of biodiversity and sustainability to advocate for their local communities, including use of a free app to collect species data, opportunities to utilize AI tools, and suggestions for community-facing products that students can create.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Jack (Humble ISD: Humble, TX), Elissa Griffin (Humble ISD: Kingwood, TX)

Connect the human impact of trash pollution to engineering design. Get your students thinking critically and creatively as they collaborate in real-world problem solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience a project that enhances STEM skills in students such as collaboration, curiosity, and creativity.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Scott, LA), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

Come have fun creating data that simulates the flight of a model rocket. Together, we will walk through the Python code and make key coding decisions so that we create data that is representative of the real flight. Both linear and quadratic functions will be used to model and understand the flight.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience the marriage of science, coding and mathematics by using Python to create simulated flight data of a model rocket. Participants will get to see how coding and mathematics can be used to understand what is happening in the physical world.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Pennell (High Point University: High Point, NC, NC)

This workshop will discuss the value of a HFE course to K-12 education and how to adapt HFE to technology education and vocational high school curriculum environments. Workshop activities will reinforce hands-on analysis, decision making and redesign methods, with a Q&A discussion to follow.

TAKEAWAYS:
Consider Human Factors Engineering as a means of adding valuable practical hands-on, project-based, user-centered design, and transferable skill experiences with authentic real-world application.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Tenenbaum (Union County Vocational-Technical Schools: Scotch Plains, NJ)

NSF’s NOIRLab’s Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program brings students the excitement of scientific discovery by exploring astronomical data. Learn how students can hunt for brown dwarfs and planets in the outer solar system using the citizen science project Backyward Worlds. Laptops are encouraged.

TAKEAWAYS:
By exploring the Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program designed to support the NGSS, participants will learn about the resources available to introduce astronomical data analysis their classrooms and help students develop critical thinking and data literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ)

This session will engage participants in an engineering task using a project management approach called Scrum. Embedded throughout the experience, we will demonstrate how we explicitly teach students SEL. We will share our classroom experiences and strategies to promote SEL and engineering design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how they can embed an agile project management approach called Scrum and SEL into Engineering Design. We will show strategies we have used to teach SEL and Scrum that have resulted in much more productive group work.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Borton (Science Teacher and Ed.D Student: Nevada, IA), Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Test some heat-treated metal samples; practice your math skills and artistry with a STEAM activity; work in groups for an engineering challenge! There’s a little something for everyone and we won’t judge you for wanting to be hot and cheap in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with at least 3 useful lab activities giving opportunities for measurement, math, engineering, collaborative work, and an understanding of the materials around us. All of the activities use easy to find and household materials that are available at low cost.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson (Washington High School: Columbus, OH)

Participants will use cell phone adapters and microscopes to capture photos/videos of microbes present in pond water, then Screen Mirror them via Apple TV. Participants will record observations of organisms, briefly research them, and develop a CER style writing to justify their identification.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about hands-on activities that engage students in science and research, and strategies to improve evidence-based writing in the science classroom including a CER checklist, scaffolding techniques for struggling writers, vocabulary banks, sentence frames, and peer feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Maureen Barclay (Captain Shreve High School: Shreveport, LA), Amy Douglas Kendrick (Jena High School: Jena, LA)

We will explore the processes of a STEM project following the Engineering Design Process (EDP) by using data collected by sensors to help teams evaluate the effectiveness of their project.

TAKEAWAYS:
How can we encourage teams to use sensors in their STEM project so that they will better understand the impact of their plan.

SPEAKERS:
David Young (Enter confirmation #: Fayetteville, AR)

This session will engage participants in authentic conservation decision-making practices using dynamic, interactive tools on the Half-Earth Project Map and Map of Life. The activities shared empower learners to evaluate biodiversity distribution, protected areas, and human impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Human activity adversely impacts biodiversity through habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. However, data-driven tech tools help ensure conservation decisions protect areas with the highest biodiversity with equitable benefits to humans.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller (E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation: Chapel Hill, NC)

Immerse yourself in a captivating learning experience as you critically analyze the environmental and social issues surrounding a coal ash landfill located in a small, rural town in Alabama. Join others as you explore how to help students analyze and solve community issues through Design Thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science educators will learn how to create and implement Design Thinking lessons centered around local community issues.

SPEAKERS:
Malysa Chandler (Clinical Instructor/Doc Student: Marion, AL)

Find out how to leverage opportunities in your-day-to-day science teaching to get students excitedly picturing themselves in STEM careers! We’ll show you how to use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to intentionally support students’ development of Career Readiness Competencies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Become familiar with Career Readiness Competencies and how to use HQIM to create opportunities for students to develop these competencies.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Rob Wallace (: Houma, LA)

Wanna go fast? Really fast? Maglev trains have superior acceleration, lower maintenance, and provide a smooth ride but there are also some challenges. Designing a model allows students to learn about magnetic fields, superconductors which provides a means to connect to the exciting world of quantum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Real world applications for quantum information science and engineering STEM project appropriate for the classroom Content on maglev, magnetic fields, superconductors, levitation

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler (University of Texas Arlington: Arlington, TX)

Inspire students to lead energy action and design a campus microgrid system. This hands-on workshop equips educators with practical knowledge to engage students in energy-related concepts, including microgrids and energy analysis, fostering energy literacy and sustainability awareness.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on session will cover the United States’ energy system, energy resilience, transitions toward a decentralized energy generation, and how to solve problems like energy managers. Participants will leave the workshop with concepts and strategies to implement this lesson with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Bahar Pahlevani (The Energy Coalition: Irvine, CA), Tess Hooper (Project Manager: Irvine, CA)

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to help your students connect to nature through birds–an accessible animal in every season, explore biodiversity data, build science practices with eBird participatory science, and use tech and big data to help conservation efforts wherever you are.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to: use the Merlin Bird ID app to identify birds, submit data to eBird, and describe how participatory science helps students develop data literacy, deepen their understanding of biodiversity, uncover real-world patterns and trends, and support conservation efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Blacksburg, VA)