Baltimore to Host Area's Largest Gathering of Science Educators at NSTA Conference, November 11-13

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Science educators from across the region will convene in Baltimore for the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Area Conference on Science Education. Held in conjunction with the Maryland Association of Science Teachers (MAST), the three-day event will feature hundreds of workshops, presentations, and seminars on a variety of topics, aimed at engaging science educators of all levels in the latest and most innovative teaching methods and new developments in science. The conference will be held at the Baltimore Convention Center and other local venues.

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The keynote speaker for the Baltimore conference is Bill Nye the Science Guy®.  Scientist, author, motivational speaker and vice president of the Planetary Society, Nye has hosted a number of television shows, including 100 Greatest Discoveries for the Discovery Channel and is the author of five children's books, including Bill Nye the Science Guy's Great Big Book of Tiny Germs. Nye's presentation is at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov.11, in Ballroom 3-4 at the Baltimore Convention Center.  He will explore science as the process of discovery and understanding and why science is vital to solving many of the world's problems    

Other noted speakers include renowned photographer Middleton Evans.  Known for his stunning photographs of Maryland's wildlife, Evans will share the hidden treasures he has discovered in Baltimore during his 20 year career.  His presentation is at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, November 11 in Holiday Ballroom 4-5 at the Hilton Baltimore.

Col. Geoffrey Ling, program manager for Defense Sciences office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will discuss how DARPA's mission to utilize fundamental scientific and technological discoveries maintains the superiority of the U.S. military.  He presents at 11 a.m., on Friday, November 12, in Holiday Ballroom 4-5 at the Hilton Baltimore.  Ling was recently featured on 60 Minutes for his research work on upper-extremity prosthesis.  He has also worked on preventing explosive-blast brain injury.  

Don Baugh, vice president of Environmental Education for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, will showcase ways to connect children with nature through hands-on environmental education programs at 2 p.m., on Friday, November 12 in Holiday Ballroom 4-5 at the Hilton Baltimore. Baugh oversees the world's largest watershed/estuarine program.  In 2007 he founded the No Child Left Inside Coalition and serves as executive director.

The Exhibition of Science and Teaching Materials is an essential destination for attendees.  More than 150 of the leading science education companies and organizations will be exhibiting at the conference. A number of mobile labs that bring science directly to Maryland classrooms will be a special feature in the Exhibit Hall. The Maryland Bio Lab, an innovative lab for high school students and teachers, will be on-site to showcase lab activities that clean up oil spills and make biodiesel fuel.  The Food Safety Discovery Zone, an engaging and interactive lab sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), travels to schools and teaches students about food safety.  The Discover Genomics mobile lab, sponsored by the J. Craig Venter Institute, provides opportunities for middle school students and teachers to learn about current bioscience concepts and the tools used in modern research laboratories.    

NSTA is hosting Science Matters, a free community event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, November 13, in Exhibit Hall E in the Baltimore Convention Center. At the Science Matters Community Event, teachers, parents, and families can participate in exciting hands-on science and engineering activities, view live animal presentations and learn new ways to engage children in science.  The Science Matters Community Event will provide both teachers and parents with teaching resources and information on quality learning experiences in the sciences — starting at an early age — and information on why science education is critical to science literacy and our future workforce.  

The NSTA Baltimore Area Conference on Science Education begins at 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 11 and will conclude at noon on Saturday, November 13.  Teachers interested in attending the conference can register online at http://www.nsta.org/conferences.

About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), www.nsta.org, is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.  NSTA's current membership includes approximately 60,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

SOURCE National Science Teachers Association