Ticketed Events

NSTA Professional Development Institutes

Well-known professional development providers and NSTA partners will lead eight focused content-based explorations of key topics as well as four one-day work sessions. Each professional development institute (PDI) begins with a full-day preconference session, followed by two days of pathways sessions that offer further exploration of the topics. The four work sessions are one-day sessions at a reduced fee because they do not include pathway sessions.

To learn more, visit NSTA’s professional development web pages.

NSTA Symposia

These half-day conference workshops include presentations and classroom activities by NSTA partner organizations as well as after-conference follow-up in the form of web seminars, which extend the interactivity between the participants and presenters at the conference. Two symposia are scheduled at the San Antonio conference.

Click here for complete descriptions and scheduling information.

Short Courses

Fill in the gaps in your content knowledge and explore the very latest research and strategies with one of our San Antonio short courses. These intensive workshops explore topics from using art to express the connection between animal adaptations and human inventions to interacting with polar scientists experienced in polar and climate change science. All short courses are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so act now!

Click here for complete descriptions and scheduling information.

Field Trips

Discover what San Antonio has to offer on one of our ticketed field trips. The San Antonio Conference Committee has scheduled several exciting field trips to area attractions. Slip into a wetsuit and interact with beluga whales and sea lions at SeaWorld; visit San Antonio Zoo and attend a workshop on "Awesome Adaptations" created especially for elementary teachers; experience Bat Emergence at Bracken Bat Cave, which is the summer home to the world's largest bat colony; and more. Participants will meet their field trip leader 15 minutes prior to departure time at the Convention Way shuttle lane, in front of the Convention Center (west side of building) off Market Street.

Click here for complete descriptions and scheduling information.

Networking Events

Make some new friends and get reacquainted with old friends at one of our ticketed social functions. Many of these events feature special speakers, such as the High School Breakfast, the NSTA/NMLSTA Middle Level Luncheon, and the CESI/NSTA Elementary Science Luncheon. Honor NSTA award winners at the NSTA Teacher Awards Gala. And don’t miss the President's Reception! Purchase a ticket for this event and enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres, a pasta station, cheese display, and assorted desserts as well as dinner music and a cash bar; and reserved seating at the President’s Evening Featured Presentation by David Hanson.

Click here for complete descriptions and scheduling information.

Global Conversations in Science Education Conference

On Thursday, April 11, NSTA will have a special day dedicated to science education from an international perspective. The conference commences with a plenary talk by Dr. Doris Jorde, director of Norwegian Centre for Science Education in Oslo, Norway. This plenary session will be followed by concurrent sessions, a poster session, and an afternoon plenary talk by Dr. Jonathan Osborne, The Shriram Family Professorship of Science Education at Stanford University. The day will conclude with short presentations from participants on current trends, issues, and best practices from around the world. During this day, there will be numerous opportunities for international visitors to network together and to interact with science educators from various cultures, including those from North America. This event is open to all registered conference attendees at no additional charge, but tickets are required.

Click here for details.