Society for Science & the Public Brings Together 200 STEM Teachers to Talk About Leading Students Through Research, Building Community Support and Recruiting Underserved Students
2018 Research Teachers Conference to be Keynoted by former U.S. Office of Science & Technology Policy Official
WASHINGTON, DC – Two hundred science research teachers will be gathering in Washington, DC, this weekend for the Society for Science & the Public’s Research Teachers Conference to discuss key science education issues, including how to lead students through scientific research, how to gain support from elected officials and best practices for recruiting underserved students. The conference, sponsored by Regeneron, includes teachers from 43 states and Puerto Rico.
The conference will be keynoted by Kumar Garg, Society Fellow and a former official within the Obama Administration’s Office of Science and Technology Policy. Garg will share his experiences with those gathered, focusing on the importance of teachers sharing their experience with their elected officials and community leaders. Other topics will include finding funding and resources for your research program, identifying local mentors, handling projects beyond your content knowledge, incorporating scientific research into class time, leading research with limited resources and supporting student research in rural areas. Teachers will also have an opportunity to learn about the Society’s world-class science competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science competition.
Teachers, selected via lottery to attend the all-expense-paid weekend, come from 200 schools. During the conference, the Society will draw upon the expertise of the teachers in attendance, calling on them to lead most of the breakout sessions. Through this model, the teachers are able to learn from one another.
“The young people sitting in science classrooms today will someday be solving our world’s largest challenges. I’m thrilled that through the Research Teachers Conference, the Society is providing teachers with the tools they need to guide their students through scientific research and help foster a love of science,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News. It is critical that we provide their teachers with the tools they need to ensure that these students have quality STEM research experiences.”
Of the 200 teachers selected to attend the conference via lottery, one third are veterans with significant experience teaching research, one third are teachers with some experience teaching research and one third have no experience but are interested in teaching science research. The list of teachers who will be attending the 2018 Research Teachers Conference is available at https://student.societyforscience.org/research-teachers-conference.
Interest in the Research Teachers Conference remains high, with 1,288 teachers signing up for the lottery. All 200 selected are from schools who have never had an educator attend the conference, and no school has more than one representative, with the exception of a newly added role of Research Teacher Captain. Twenty-five returning attendees will present and serve as a resource for a cohort of seven new attendees.
About Society for Science & the Public
Society for Science & the Public is dedicated to the achievement of young scientists in independent research and to public engagement in science. Established in 1921, the Society is a nonprofit whose vision is to promote the understanding and appreciation of science and the vital role it plays in human advancement. Through its world-class competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and the Broadcom MASTERS, and its award-winning magazine, Science News and Science News for Students, Society for Science & the Public is committed to inform, educate, and inspire. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (Society4Science).