Conferences

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center • 901 Convention Center Blvd. • New Orleans, LA 70130

Mark your calendar for NSTA's last 2017 area conference—we'll be in New Orleans, Louisiana!

Twitter hashtags: #NSTA17 (2017 conferences), #NSTA (all-purpose)

Session Proposals

Have an idea for an inspiring presentation or workshop on science education? You have until January 17, 2017, to submit a session proposal for the 2017 NSTA Area Conferences. Click here for information on our new guidelines for session proposals and to submit a session proposal today (deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 17, 2017).

Proposal Review Timeline for 2017 Area Conferences

• Submission deadline: January 17, 2017
• Proposals reviewed in March
• Accepted sessions scheduled and acceptance e-mails sent in early spring

Conference Strands

To help you make the most of the professional development opportunities available at the New Orleans conference, the Conference Committee has planned the conference around three strands that explore topics of current significance, enabling you to focus on a specific area of interest or need.

Inspire Our Young Learners

Exploring science is one of the many joys of childhood. However, many of our young students are given limited opportunities to learn science and therefore are missing the wonder and excitement of understanding the world around them. The goal of this strand is to engage our young learners in science by creating formal and informal education experiences that build upon natural inquisitiveness and use inquiry to help them understand their world. Young learners need quality learning experiences and activities that spark their curiosity, promote higher level thinking, and nurture a solid foundation in science. This strand will expose educators to instructional strategies that make connections between literacy and scientific concepts and build pedagogical knowledge of science teaching.

Integrate Science Education for ALL

All students need to be engaged in and have access to exemplary science classes, out-of-school science activities, real-world work experiences, mentors, and other springboards to STEM careers. In order for the United States to remain a world leader and to advance our society, science educators need to empower students to create a future filled with scientific and technological advances. An urgency exists in the United States to develop a stronger workforce in the STEM fields. However, research has shown that only a small number of students are interested in pursuing degrees or qualifying for jobs in the STEM fields. It is clear that to benefit our economy and society, our priority should be on educating and encouraging more students from all races, genders, abilities, nationalities, and socioeconomic statuses to study science. This strand will explore ways for educators to use the newest standards and research to reach ALL students, including English language learners, special education students, gifted and talented students, and underrepresented minorities.

Innovate Science Education for Tomorrow

Students are often taught science concepts and current issues, but are rarely challenged to create innovative and practical solutions to real-world problems. Students are engaged in the use of technology, but their understanding of the science and engineering behind the function of that technology is limited. PreK–16 science instruction should emphasize the application of science to all career fields, both in theory and in practice. This strand expands participants' understanding of how to foster students' critical-thinking skills and facilitate future problem solving by students.

Conference Committee Leaders

Jean May-Brett
Conference Chairperson
STEM Educator
1627 Taylor St.
Kenner, LA 70062

Shannon Lafont
Program Coordinator
Grant and Contract Writer
Lafourche Parish School Board
PO Box 305
Schriever, LA 70395

Nathan Cotten
Local Arrangements Coordinator
STEM Curriculum Specialist
Terrebonne Parish School District
201 Stadium Dr.
Houma, LA 70360