On November 12th, I traveled with five other future science teachers and our professor from Pennsylvania to Minneapolis for a glimpse into the future of science education. For four days, we attended informative sessions, networked with peers, and deepened our understanding of effective science education practices. 

After receiving support from our school, Shippensburg University, to attend the conference, we set our sights on one goal: gaining insight and building professional connections with NSTA members. As pre-service teachers who are about to begin student teaching in the spring, we were looking for more resources to bring back to Pennsylvania so that we’re as prepared as possible for our journey into a full-time classroom.

An Inviting Atmosphere

The NSTA Conference in Minneapolis was energizing from the moment we arrived. The Minneapolis Convention Center was a perfect venue - spacious, well-organized, and filled with educators from every background, creating an atmosphere of excitement and curiosity. Despite the size of the event, the sense of community was immediate. We were especially struck by the professionalism and genuine kindness shown by members of the NSTA Board and NSTA staff members that we met - especially the current President, Dr. Beverly DeVore-Wedding, who took time to welcome and engage in meaningful conversations with pre-service teachers. Her openness and encouragement made the conference feel both inspiring and deeply supportive, reinforcing why the science education community is such a special group to be a part of.

During the conference, we found many similarities between discussions in sessions and what we had learned in class. After each workshop, our group would discuss how the ideas presented correlated with what we learned in class, juxtaposed with the different positions conference attendees had taken. We agreed that the NSTA conference offered incredible professional connections and a wealth of resources to use in our classrooms and during student teaching. It was incredibly refreshing to be around science-minded people and have the opportunity to bounce ideas off educators who have been in the field, as well as professionals who have left the classroom for administrative roles or research jobs in other scientific areas.

Lessons, Learning, and Collaboration

One of our sessions, Avoid the Rat Race, introduced us to hands-on comparative anatomy through a rat dissection, highlighting the importance of structured inquiry, safety, and purposeful questioning. In Beat the Uncertainty: Planning Climate-Resilient Cities, we saw how gamified decision-making activities allow students to analyze data, consider consequences, and design climate-resilient communities. Dead Men Do Tell Tales (and So Will Your Students) showed us that forensic science activities can strengthen observational and evidence-based reasoning skills while integrating cross-curricular learning. Fantastic Physical Science Demos provided simple, accessible demonstrations that make physics concepts memorable without requiring complicated materials. We even went to our professor’s session, which helped us feel more prepared to integrate AI responsibly in future classrooms.

Exhibitor Hall Experience

During the conference, we met with many exhibitors who provided valuable resources and insights for our future classrooms. Throughout the Expo Hall, we collected free classroom resources, including jarred specimens, local rock samples, textbooks, posters, assessment tools, manipulatives, and discounts on hydroponic systems. For preservice teachers, the Expo Hall proved just as valuable as the sessions, giving us opportunities to connect with current educators and professionals in research fields; conversations that may shape our future careers.

Professional Growth & Impact

Our group experienced profound professional growth thanks to the NSTA conference. Everyone from Shippensburg who attended became more polished as they interacted with educators, NSTA board members, and administrators from schools in the surrounding areas. This event opened our eyes to different possibilities for our science classrooms as we experienced diverse ways of teaching, new methods to use science materials, and emerging ideas we can use in our own practices. It was incredibly inspiring to be among a group of passionate science educators and benefit from their collective experience. We made connections at the conference that we can use as a resource and met people we can rely on for future support. 

At the end of the week, all six of us returned home with increased confidence inspired by conversations and interactions at the 2025 NSTA fall conference. We hope that in the future, other pre-service teachers will have the same opportunity to expand their minds and reinforce their teaching at this incredible event.

Laci Hoover is a preservice teacher in Shippensburg University’s Science Methods program in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.

The mission of NSTA is to transform science education to benefit all through professional learning, partnerships, and advocacy.