Keynote Speaker: DR. AMANDA MASINO

Dr. Amanda Masino is Associate Professor of Biology and Chair of Natural Science at Huston-Tillotson University (HT). Dr. Masino directs HT’s new Environmental Justice major, co-founded and organizes HT’s annual environmental justice conference, the Building Green Justice Forum, and mentors the environmental student group, Green is the New Black.

FEATURED SPEAKER: DR. SARAH MCANULTY

Dr. Sarah McAnulty is a squid biologist and science communicator. She received her Ph.D. in molecular and cell biology working on Hawaiian bobtail squid symbiosis in 2019. She is currently the executive director of Skype a Scientist, a non-profit that connects over 10,000 classrooms to scientists every year. Dr. McAnulty is a prolific science communicator, with an active presence on Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Tiktok. She’s been featured by Nature, Forbes, NPR Shortwave, along with many others, for her work.

FEATURED SPEAKER: LAURA HUERTA MIGUS

A Federal View of Museum Trends

Laura Huerta Migus was appointed Deputy Director, Office of Museum Services, in July 2021. She comes to IMLS following her tenure as Executive Director of the Association of Children's Museums (ACM) in Arlington, Virginia, the world's largest professional society promoting and advocating on behalf of children's museums and children’s museum professionals. Laura has been devoted to the growth and education of children, particularly those from underserved and under-resourced communities.

Empowering Not Engaging - A Look at Rural and Remote STEM Learning Ecosystems

Kalman Mannis, Arizona Science Center

workshop: Build Your Own Culturally Responsive Outdoor Science Activity

Rachel Lincoln and Kristy Daniel, Texas State University

Dark Energy Explorers-Using Citizen Science to Enhance the Hobby-Eberly Telescope Dark Energy Experiment

Lindsay House and Keely Finkelstein, University of Texas at Austin

Panel Session: How Can Your Organization Get Involved With Innovative, Place-Based Math Learning in Informal Settings? Come Learn About the NSF-Funded, Mathfinder App Development Project!

Panel Participants are from Dallas Zoo, Dallas Arboretum, St Philip’s School & Community Center, STEM Center of Excellence (Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas), Frontiers of Flight Museum, and Southern Methodist University

Whodunit? Using a Local Mystery to Teach Children About Water Pollution and Connect to Their Community

Betsy Marsh, Tarrant Regional Water District

Sowing a Community of Stars: Building Volunteer Networks to Preserve Dark Skies

Leah Cuddeback and Dawn Davies, Hill Country Alliance

workshop: Sustaining Partnerships to Strengthen Informal Learning Communities

Amber Middlebrook, Mahek Shaikh and Elise Gonzalez, Science Mill

Workshop: Opening “OUT” Doors: Providing Nature Accessibility to Combat the Growing Nature Deficit

Katie Boughal and August Vandiver, City Pearland Parks and Recreation

Developing Scientific Mindsets Through Questions, Inquiry and the Success of Failure

Alfred Daniel Olivas, INSIGHTS Science and Discovery

Mindfulness Matters - How Mindfulness and Curiosity Open the Doors for STEM Education

Lari Jo W Edwards, Your Inner Naturalist, and Christina Campos, West Oso ISD

Science Museum Futures Project

Charlie Walter, Mayborn Museum, Baylor University

workshop: STEM and the Art of Food PreservationMelissa Felty and Danielle Bradley, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Kalman Mannis, Arizona Science Center