A recent Education Week blog post touts the importance of cultivating curiosity in children. Science teachers do that every day, and one of the things NSTA members frequently do is share their ideas about how to nurture curiosity—not just in their students, but in themselves. This year, attendees of NSTA’s 2014 Richmond Area Conference on Science Education (October 16-18) will have a chance to do exactly that because one of the strands focuses on Partnerships and Collaborations.
Here are just a few of the presentations that will be offered, and the session browser is online, so attendees can put their experience together now!

• Childlike Wonder: Using Science Hobbies and Hobbyists to Facilitate a Lifetime Engagement with Science
  Saturday, October 18 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Science hobbyists are an untapped resource in many communities. Learn how to create partnerships with hobbyist groups to advance STEM education inside and outside your classroom.
  Presenter(s): Elysa Corin (North Carolina State University: Raleigh, NC), M. Gail Jones (North Carolina State University: Raleigh, NC), Gina Childers (North Carolina State University: Raleigh, NC), Rebecca Hite (North Carolina State University: Raleigh, NC)
  GRADE LEVEL: General
• Using Citizen Science to Build Community Partnerships
  Thursday, October 16 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Citizen Science engages learners in authentic science that can change the community and beyond. Join us for a look at opportunities, resources, and how to get started.
  Presenter(s): Robert Dillon (MRH Middle School: Maplewood, MO)
  GRADE LEVEL: 5 – 12
• The Engaged Scientist Project: Lessons from a Decade of Engaging Scientists in Informal Education
  Thursday, October 16 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Explore lessons learned from informal education partnership programs designed and run by junior scientists and learn about connecting with scientists via the Engaged Scientist Network.
  Presenter(s): Catherine Vrentas (Outreach Specialist: Ankeny, IA)
  GRADE LEVEL: General

• Make Broader Impacts: A Network for Connecting Students to Real Science
  Thursday, October 16 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Join a collaborative network of teachers and scientists through an easy-to-use, one-stop resource for citizen science, research opportunities, synthetic data, and student-to-scientist connections.
  Presenter(s): Nick LaFave (Clover High School: Clover, SC)
  GRADE LEVEL: General
• Texas-STEM Coalition—Partnerships for Success
  Thursday, October 16 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Learn successful partnering strategies used by the Texas-STEM Coalition—seven partnering STEM centers working together to improve STEM education by building and using an extensive network of partnerships to ultimately prepare students to thrive in a 21st-century global economy.
  Presenter(s): Marguerite Sognier (The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston: Galveston, TX), Clifford Houston (The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston: Galveston, TX)
  GRADE LEVEL: General
• Family STEM Explorations Created by Community Partnerships
  Friday, October 17 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Team up with business and higher education organizations in your community to host family STEM events using fun, hands-on activities that engage the entire family.
  Presenter(s): Mia Jackson (David Heil & Associates, Inc.: Portland, OR), David Heil (David Heil & Associates, Inc.: Portland, OR), Joan Chadde (Michigan Technological University: Houghton, MI), Wendy Goldfein (Newington Forest Elementary School: Springfield, VA), Cheryl Nelson (Naval Air Station North Island: San Diego, CA)
  GRADE LEVEL: 1 – 6, College
• Inquiring about STEM? Learn to Kick-start High School Connections with Our Institute
  Friday, October 17 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  “It has given a kick-start to the rest of my teaching career.” Hear how 150 STEM teachers developed inquiry-based lessons to link school to work.
  Presenter(s): Charles Setterfield (Sinclair Community College: Dayton, OH), Tom Singer (Sinclair Community College: Dayton, OH)
  GRADE LEVEL: 9 – 12, College
• Spark Students’ Interest in Chemistry with Resources from the American Chemical Society (ACS)
  Friday, October 17 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  This presentation is an overview of free resources from the ACS, including the Chemical Education Digital Library (ChemEd DL), ChemMatters video podcasts, developed lesson plans, high school energy website, and a collection of ChemClub activities.
  Presenter(s): Marta Gmurczyk (American Chemical Society: Washington, DC), Karen Kaleuati (American Chemical Society: Washington, DC), Patrice Pages (American Chemical Society: Washington, DC)
  GRADE LEVEL: 9 – 12
• NSTA Press® Session: Showcasing How Elementary Preservice Interns Teach Inside–Out.
  Friday, October 17 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, Governors Room (B20)
  Join us as we showcase how the materials from Inside–Out: Environmental Science in the Classroom and the Field, Grades 3–8 are used in the classroom by preservice elementary education students.
  Presenter(s): Robert Blake, Jr. (Towson University: Towson, MD), Sarah Haines (Towson University: Towson, MD), Lisa Trattner (Towson University: Towson, MD)
  GRADE LEVEL: 3 – 5
• NARST Session: Research Apprenticeships for Diverse High School Students
  Friday, October 17 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, B14
  Discussion centers on the impact of a research apprenticeship program developed for diverse students and possible implications for both in and out-of-school science education. Emphasis will be placed on issues of authenticity and science and engineering practices as presented in the NGSS.
  Presenter(s): Stephen Burgin (Old Dominion University: Norfolk, VA), William McConnell (Old Dominion University: Norfolk, VA)
  FORMAT: Presentation
  GRADE LEVEL: 9 – 12
• Macroinvertebrates to 3-D Imaging: Collaborations for Environmental STEAM Education In and Out of the Classroom
  Friday, October 17 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Engage grades 6–8 students in imaginative inquiry-based lessons that involve macroinvertebrate and habitat evaluation field studies, aquatic husbandry, freshwater pond development, 3-D design and imaging, interactive computer animation, and outdoor recreation all while supporting state standards.
  Presenter(s): Jessica Kester (The Outdoor Classroom: Pittsburgh, PA)
  GRADE LEVEL: 6 – 8
• From the Bus to the Boardroom: Fostering Informal Science Education Opportunites with Partners from Your Own Community
  Saturday, October 18 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Ever scratched your head over how to get your students to grasp a science concept? The answer may be a phone call away. Join Kay Stone, outreach administrator at Auburn University, to learn some ways to tap into the rich resources in your own backyard.
  Presenter(s): Kay Stone (Auburn University Environmental Institute: Auburn, AL)
  GRADE LEVEL: 5 – 8
• Arizona STEM Club Guide and Network
  Saturday, October 18 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Receive an overview of the Arizona STEM Club Guide & Online Network and the benefits of STEM clubs. Find out how to replicate the process to create your own STEM club and statewide STEM club network.
  Presenter(s): John Kriekard (Science Foundation Arizona: Phoenix, AZ)
  GRADE LEVEL: General
• Our Common Planet: A Collaborative Venture
  Saturday, October 18 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Join a discussion on how non-formal environmental educators and the Agency of Education collaborated to develop an NGSS program for all Vermont teachers of science.
  Presenter(s): Gail Hall (Vermont Agency of Education: Barre, VT)
  GRADE LEVEL: K, 1 – 12
• How Delaware Left No Child Inside
  Saturday, October 18 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM
  Greater Richmond Convention Center, E21A
  Hear how two agencies, the Department of Education and Department of Natural Resources, worked together to develop an action plan to address the interrelated challenges of providing all children with outdoor experiences, improving children’s health, promoting environmental literacy, and increasing student achievement.
  Presenter(s): Tonyea Mead (Delaware Dept. of Education: Dover, DE)
  GRADE LEVEL: K, 1 – 12

Join us for this special experience. Register now!