ISEA 2025: Empowering Curiosity: Science for All, Y’all - San Antonio, TX
Join us for the Informal Science Education Association’s 2025 annual conference - Empowering Curiosity: Science for All, Y’all! where informal science educators unite to make science accessible, exciting, and relevant for every learner. Discover new strategies, share ideas, and inspire other informal educators.
Our 2025 conference will occur on February 12-14, 2025 and will be a three-day Conference: evening Wednesday (5-10 pm), a full day Thursday (8 am-6 pm), and a half day Friday (8 am-12 pm) with optional pre- and post-conference experiences on Wednesday and Friday.
Outstanding keynote and featured speakers, professional development sessions, poster presentations, networking activities, and on-site workshops will connect participants to informal science education movements that are shaping our field on state and national levels. ISEA convenes over 100 educators from all over Texas to advance the work of informal science and strengthen our network of practice.
This year’s conference will take ISEA to camp. Our conference venue and host site is Morgan’s Wonderland Camp (23400 Cibolo Vista, San Antonio, TX 78261), which is a full-fledged campground with furnished cabins featuring kitchenettes, bunk beds, and community bathrooms. Conference attendees will stay in one of two cabin types on site: Bexar and Alamo. To view these cabin options, please follow this link. Bunking as well as other accommodation requests will be taken during registration. Registration options are available for those who prefer off-site lodging.
Registration opens November 12th, 2024 and closes January 29th, 2025.
Early-bird registration: $375 (Nov. 1st to Jan. 12th)
Regular registration: $425 (Jan. 13th to Jan. 29th)
ISEA 2025 Schedule-at-a-Glance
We are excited to share the ISEA 2025 Schedule-at-a-Glance for the upcoming ISEA 2025 Conference. This comprehensive overview provides you with a snapshot of the conference's key events, sessions, and activities, so you can easily plan your time and make the most of your conference experience. More detailed descriptions for each session are coming soon!
2025 ISEA Conference Program to be announced
stay up to date on more registration and conference information by joining our mailing list here
Keynote Speakers
Lisa Drennan | Founder | MERGE Diverse Abilities Inclusion Consulting
Lisa's career is marked by a profound commitment to fostering inclusion and improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Her journey starts at New England Village in Pembroke, Mass, where she moved from direct support professional to designing and opening the Sollar Wellness Center, a unique facility offering aquatics, fitness, music, art, and education specifically designed for persons with disabilities.
Transitioning to the South Shore YMCA as the Association Director of Inclusion in 2014, Lisa expanded her impact by developing innovative programs and playing a crucial role in staff training, emphasizing the importance of social and recreational inclusion. Her national recognition as a leader in the field and appointment as the Co-Chairperson of Y-USA’s Diverse Abilities Working Group underscore her influence and commitment on a broader scale.
In 2018, Lisa founded MERGE Inclusion Consulting, extending her expertise beyond the YMCA to offer consultation, staff training, and systems implementation to various community entities dedicated to disability inclusion. This move exemplifies her desire to share best practices and contribute to the broader mission of creating inclusive communities.
Madeline Shaw, MPH | Mental Health Promotion Coordinator | University of Texas
Madeline is dedicated to promoting population mental health by fostering belonging and connection. She currently works as a mental health promotion coordinator at the Longhorn Wellness Center at the University of Texas at Austin. With advanced degrees from LSU Health New Orleans, she combines her expertise with a passion for creating communities that nurture well-being. Madeline’s work focuses on leveraging cultural shifts and informal education to inspire participation and collective growth.
Parking and Transportation:
Parking is available at the Morgan's Wonderland Camp and will be included.
Meals:
Meals are included! Starting with dinner on Wednesday and ending with breakfast on Friday, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be included. Feel free to bring snacks of your choice.
Refunds:
In general, no refunds are given for cancellations after the February 1, 2024 deadline.
For questions or concerns, please reach out to texasinformalscience@gmail.com.
Sponsorships are still available. Contact us at texasinformalscience@gmail.com for more information.
Optional Pre/Post-Conference Activities:
You won't want to miss out on these fun and educational pre- and post-conference activities being offered around San Antonio! To sign up, add any experiences you would like to your registration. Additional fees apply for each workshop.
Pre-Conference Activities - Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Headwaters at the Comal Tour
Come out for a guided tour to learn about the story and mission of the Headwaters at the Comal. This ongoing project is intended to strengthen the relationship between the community and nature by showcasing and educating about the Comal Springs. This 16-acre property, located right at the headwaters of the Comal river, is being restored and rejuvenated to serve as a public space where the community can gather, enjoy nature, and learn about the beauty and importance of the river and its springs.
$15
Edwards Aquifer Authority Education Outreach Center
The team at the Edwards Aquifer Authority Education Outreach Center is dedicated to teaching audiences of all ages and backgrounds about the wonder and importance of the Edwards Aquifer. Join us for a tour of their incredible education center featuring interactive exhibits and displays, a Cave theater, endangered species aquaria, a one-of-a-kind Global Perspective Display, a Cloud Caster, and a Demonstration Garden. Situated on the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and on campus at Morgan's Camp, this will be a great spot to learn about the aquifer and methods this education center employs to engage folks in water conservation.
$15
Post-Conference Activities - friday, February 14, 2025
Glass Bottom Boat Ride & Wetlands Boardwalk Tour
Visit the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and take a look under the surface on a private, guided glass bottom boat ride at Spring Lake followed by a short wetlands tour. Guests will enjoy a fantastic view of the bottom of the lake and the famous springs after which the lake is named. After the boat ride, we'll head out for a 30-minute wetlands boardwalk tour to discover the beauty and importance of this fragile ecosystem while learning about the abundant plant and animal life that thrives here.
$15
Natural Bridge Caverns Tour
Head underground for a public guided cavern tour at the Natural Bridge Caverns. This tour takes participants 180 feet down through the largest cavern in the state featuring massive chambers, pools, and beautiful natural formations including soda straws, flowstone, stalagmites and stalactites that have grown over thousands of years.
$30
Covid-19
ISEA is excited to present the 2025 ISEA Conference: Empowering Curiosity: Science for All, Y’all! ISEA will monitor the COVID situation across the state and will update conference attendees as needed regarding conference COVID protocols in order to insure the safest conference experience possible for attendees, presenters, and the community.
Thank you for your cooperation in making this conference a success. We look forward to seeing everyone in person!
