Spotlight on Science: Re-igniting Science Education

*Masks will be required at all indoor sessions/activities and social distance guidelines will be followed

The ASTA Fall Conference, "Spotlight on Science: Re-igniting Science Education," will be held on October 16, 2021 and encompass opportunities for K-12 educators to engage in quality professional development through various sessions. Each session will connect to the Arkansas Science Standards and other various STEM Curriculum as outlined by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Sessions will promote diverse opportunities for students to become creative thinkers of science/STEM. Participants will select from various "grade/content level" sessions throughout the day. ASTA strives for each session to

• Provide vertical alignment in standards, strategies, and/or Science and/or Engineering skills.
• Engage participants in opportunities for rich collaboration and discussion.
• Promote innovation and/or increased student engagement in science/STEM understanding.
• Support current research and/or reform in science/STEM education.
• Encourage professional growth in science/STEM content and practice.

Speaker: Sam Kean

Sam Kean spent years collecting mercury from broken thermometers as a kid, and now he’s a writer in Washington, D.C. His stories have appeared in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Slate, and Psychology Today, among other places, and his work has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab”, “Science Friday”, and “All Things Considered,” among other shows. The Bastard Brigade was a “Science Friday” book of the year, while Caesar’s Last Breath was the Guardian science book of the year. The Disappearing Spoon was a runner-up for the Royal Society book of the year. Both The Violinist’s Thumb and The Dueling Neurosurgeons were nominated for PEN’s literary science writing award.

There will be a fieldtrip to Nuclear One from 3-5 on Friday, this may be purchased as an add-on

Host or Publisher Arkansas Science Teachers Association