Two Hundred STEM Teachers Selected to Participate in High School Research Teachers Conference
Attendees to discuss big data, how to support underserved students and key science education issues
WASHINGTON, DC – SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 – High school teachers from across the country will be gathering in Washington, DC, this weekend for the Society for Science & the Public’s High School Research Teachers Conference. The teachers will be discussing key science education issues, such as using Big Data in student research, biosafety, and supporting low income students. The conference, sponsored by Regeneron, includes teachers from 46 states as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Teachers also will have an opportunity to learn about the Society’s world-class science competitions, including the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science competition for high school seniors.
Teachers, selected via lottery to attend the all-expense-paid weekend, come from 200 schools. During the conference, teachers will lead their own breakout sessions and fireside chats. This format will foster a more natural discussion and encourage the participants to interact and share with each other the techniques that proved beneficial in their own classrooms and communities.
Now in its fifth year, the conference has received high marks from attendees, with the majority of attendees in 2018 saying they would be very likely to recommend the conference to a colleague. What’s more, a majority of those surveyed in 2018 reported that the conference was either much better than expected or better than expected.
“At the High School Research Teachers Conference, we put educators in the driver’s seat, enabling them to provide input into the agenda and teach one another about best practices and what is most effective in the classroom,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of the Society for Science & the Public and Publisher of Science News. “We hope that teachers will leave our conference inspired and excited to implement new and innovative ideas in their own classrooms so that they can provide their students with high-quality STEM 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 2019 Research Teachers Conference is available at https://www.societyforscience.org/outreach-and-equity/high-school-research-teachers-conference/
Entrance to the Research Teachers Conference is in high demand, with 1,321 teachers entering the lottery this year. 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 the role of Research Teacher Captain. These 25 returning attendees will present and serve as a resource for a cohort of 7 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 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).