Smithsonian 2023 National Education Summit

Smithsonian 2023 National Education Summit

Registration is now open for the 2023 Smithsonian National Education Summit! Whether you’re joining in person or virtually, all are invited to explore the intersections of art, culture, history, and science with three days of incredible (and FREE) programming. 

Partnering with Youth for Sustainability 
July 19, 2023 
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM 
Online 

Partnering with Youth for Sustainability: Researching the shift in students' attitudes 
How do young people become environmental activists? Hear from two classroom teachers who are using Smithsonian Science for Global Goals to empower their students to learn about and take action on environmental issues in their communities - and how you can too. This is an innovative partnership between the Smithsonian Science Education Center, the American Women's History Initiative, and Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science. 
 
Speakers 
Heidi Gibson, MA (she/her) 
Smithsonian Science Education Center 
 
Helen Bond, PhD (she/her) 
Howard University 
 
JaNae Briscoe, BS (she/her) 
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science 
 
Leon Drabo, MS (he/him) 
Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science 
 
_____________ 
 
The Importance of Climate Literacy for All Students 
July 19, 2023 
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM 
Arts + Industries Building (in-person) 

Climate change education isn't a science-only issue. It needs to be taught across grade levels and subjects as it touches on many aspects of our lives. That's why it's important for educators to teach about climate change in all subjects, from science and technology to history and civics. In this panel discussion, we'll explore how climate literacy can reduce climate anxiety and what educators can do to support students in addressing one of the great challenges of our time. 
 
Speakers 
Carla L. Easter, PhD (she/her) 
National Museum of Natural History 
 
Carol O'Donnell, EdD (she/her) 
Smithsonian Science Education Center, Smithsonian Institution 
 
Frank Niepold, MEd (he/him) 
NOAA Climate Program Office and the U.S. Global Change Research Program 
 
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Sharing Stories of Women in STEAM Careers 
July 19, 2023 
1:00 PM - 1:50 PM 
Online 

Join us for an interactive session with women working in STEAM careers! Hear their stories, learn from their experiences, and get inspired to encourage more girls and women to pursue STEAM careers. We’ll discuss challenges and successes in STEAM careers; how to be a mentor to women and girls in STEAM; the role of female mentors and leaders; how to overcome challenges in STEAM careers; and how to shared lessons learned with others. The goal is to promote inclusion within STEAM education and provide inspiration for educators of all backgrounds about their students’ career paths. 
 
Speakers 
Amy D'Amico, PhD (she/her) 
Smithsonian Science Education Center 
 
Fiona Odeyomi 
Shell USA 
 
Navneet Mezcciani 
The Aerospace Corporation 
 
Teletha Brown, MS 
Johnson & Johnson 
 
Maya Morales Garcia, MAT (she/her/ella) 
Beyond100K 
 
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Help Us Update the National Climate Literacy Guide! 
July 19, 2023 
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM 
Arts + Industries Building (in-person) 

NOAA and the Smithsonian, as part of the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) are updating the national climate literacy guide, and they need your help! The guide has been used by educators, policymakers, and scientists for more than a decade, but it's time for an update. You'll have the opportunity to provide feedback on how to ensure the guide reflects the needs of both formal and informal educators, helping to create a guide that is accurate, engaging, and accessible. 
 
Speakers 
Jennifer Collins, MA (she/her) 
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 
 
Carla L. Easter, PhD (she/her) 
National Museum of Natural History 
 
Carol O'Donnell, EdD (she/her) 
Smithsonian Science Education Center, Smithsonian Institution 
 
Haley Crim (she/her) 
NOAA Climate Program Office 
 
Katherine P. Blanchard, MA (she/her) 
Smithsonian Science Education Center 
 
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Saving Whales with Computational Thinking 
July 20, 2023 
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM 
Online 

Teach Your Students How to Save Whales with Computational Thinking. Computational thinking is a powerful problem-solving tool that can be used in any discipline. In this session, you'll learn how to integrate computational thinking into your elementary STEM classroom using the new Protecting Whales unit from the Smithsonian Science for Computational Thinking series. Modeled after the work of a marine biologist, this unit is designed for third graders and uses both hands-on and high-tech resources to help students solve the problem of whales getting hit by ships. 
 
Speakers 
Sarah J. Glassman, PhD (she/her) 
Smithsonian Science Education Center 
 
Sarah Mallette, MS and Ph.D. Candidate (she/her) 
George Mason University