Area Conference in Phoenix

December 10–12, 2020

Due to ongoing health and safety concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Science Teaching Association has decided to cancel the fall 2020 Area Conferences on Science Education. The face-to-face meetings were originally scheduled to be held October 29–31 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; November 19–21 in New Orleans, Louisiana; and December 10–12 in Phoenix, Arizona.

In making this decision, NSTA considered feedback from members and conference participants, including exhibitors and session presenters, state and local guidance on large gatherings, and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. This decision was made for the health and safety of our attendees, exhibitors, presenters, volunteers, and staff.

We appreciate the work our conference committees have put in to meeting our members’ and the greater science education community’s professional needs, and their continued guidance as we re-envision the conferences as a virtual experience in the fall. We will share additional information as soon as it is available. Thank you for your continued understanding and support while we navigate these unprecedented and challenging times.

Hitting the Road: Creating On-Ramps for All Learners

Science education should help all students understand the world around them, develop critical thinking and reasoning skills, and prepare them for a future increasingly centered around information and technology. It is critical that we ensure all students have access and supports to participate in the opportunities that a high-quality science education provides. The sessions in this strand recognize and honor the diversity of all students and the need for equitable access to engaging and effective science learning.

Intersections and Interchanges: Navigating New Connections

Discover innovative, interdisciplinary, vocational/CTE, and STEM community partnerships that enhance all students’ science learning. The focus of this strand is to connect a broader community of professionals working together to share ideas and resources that can help science and STEM education thrive in the future and make connections beyond the school walls. Sessions in this strand will engage attendees in immersive learning experiences designed to help connect professionals and bring new ideas and partnerships to life. Learn how partnerships can be created, communities can be built, and innovative programs sustained. Program topics include forming partnerships, building community connections, mentoring new teachers, coaching teacher leaders, and supporting educators coming from multiple career paths.

Conference Committee Leaders

Jen Gutierrez
Conference Chairperson
K–12 STEM Education Specialist
integratedSTEMk12, LLC
571 W. Musket Place
Chandler, AZ 85286

Meg Gebert
Program Coordinator
Project Coordinator STEM
Tucson Unified School District
101 W. 44th Street
Tucson, AZ 85713

Sara Torres
Local Arrangements Coordinator
Executive Director
Arizona Science Teachers Association
Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium
1601 E. University Blvd.
P.O. Box 210091
Tucson, AZ 85721-0091