Registration opens for January 2022 Indiana STEM Education Conference

October 26, 2021

WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana – Registration is now open for the seventh-annual Indiana STEM Education Conference to be held on Thursday, January 13, 2022, at Purdue University. The conference theme is “STEM Education: Making Giant Leaps,” and will offer both in-person and virtual participation. Presentations will include strategies to engage students in solving significant problems through STEM education. 

Conference speakers will include a special keynote address by Dr. Briony Horgan, a scientist on NASA’s newest Mars rover, Perseverance. Dr. Horgan is an Associate Professor of Planetary Science at Purdue University. Her research program uses data from NASA satellites and rovers to understand the surface processes that have shaped Mars and the Moon. Dr. Horgan will discuss her experience becoming an interdisciplinary STEM researcher, her experience with research with the Mars rover mission, and her thoughts on encouraging future STEM researchers through the K-12 schools.

“The Indiana STEM Education Conference is a great opportunity for K-12 educators to come together and learn about cutting-edge STEM education strategies,” said Dr. Bill Walker, Assistant Director of CATALYST. “Approximately 500 STEM education stakeholders attend the conference each year.”

Walker explained that since the beginning of the conference, attendees have participated in presentations on effective lessons, policies, partnerships, and assessments in STEM. Educators take information from the presentations back to classrooms to impact student interest and achievement in STEM.

Highlights of the conference also include:

  • Over 50 presentations on STEM curriculum, STEM instruction, STEM careers, and STEM research.
  • A resource webpage with presentation slides and handouts, vendor handouts, and research posters.
  • Networking with STEM education vendors.
  • Access to recorded presentations following the conference.
  • Professional Growth Points for teachers.

Cost for the conference registration is $100 for in-person attendance and $50 for virtual attendance. The registration fee includes a box lunch and refreshments for in-person attendees. Registration can be completed at http://www.purdue.edu/conferences/STEM2022.

Conference organizers are accepting proposals for in-person and virtual presentations, in-person only presentations, and prerecorded virtual-only presentations. Presentation and research proposals can be submitted at https://forms.gle/4WadHzUNKbMg6zAe8. Research posters and briefs will be published as proceedings through Purdue e-Pubs. Proposals are due on November 5, 2021.

Learn more about the 2022 Indiana STEM Education Conference: https://education.purdue.edu//catalyst/catalyst-programs/indiana-stem-ed-conference/ .

Source: Dr. Bill Walker, Assistant Director of CATALYST, wswalker@purdue.edu