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"Empowering Science: Strategies for Cultivating Joy, Creating Space, and Driving Innovation"
HASTI State Conference
February 20th-22nd, 2026
HASTI Conference Chair: Dawn Bick
Submit a program/workshop proposal for the 2026 HASTI Annual Conference, February 20-22, 2026
at Noblesville High School, Noblesville, IN.
Strands:
Cultivating joy in education- Strategies for helping teachers stay positive, present and engaged in teaching
Creating space for science- Presentations will include ideas for how elementary and preschool teachers can incorporate science in their busy schedules, how Middle and High School teachers can fit in needed content
Driving Innovation in STEM- Presentations in this strand will address the future of technology and how it fits into science education
Fostering Sustainability in science- Proposals will include ideas about how science can be used to sustain our environment, ecology and future
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New guidelines have been established for session proposals. Read carefully the descriptions provided to determine what category to submit proposals. Each presenter is limited to submitting a maximum of two proposals.
Please note: A separate portal is open for pre-service, active, and retired teachers who would like to make a presentation. All other proposals will be put on a waitlist.
Nonprofit Organizations or Government Agencies:
Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies are invited to submit up to a maximum of two (2) proposals for consideration. Proposals should focus on resources that are freely available and do not have any fee attached for participants to be able to fully utilize said resources.
Presentations focused on offering product(s) for sale, paid training or professional learning opportunities, supplements, or additional resources for a fee will need to be submitted as an Exhibitor Workshop.
Commercial Organizations
Commercial Organizations are invited to present via the Exhibitor Workshop option. To be eligible, companies must have an exhibit booth for the respective conference. Exhibitor workshops are guaranteed to be scheduled provided they meet acceptable standards of taste and NSTA Safety Guidelines. Commercial Organizations need to register as an Exhibitor.
Science Consultants
Science Consultants are invited to submit up to a maximum of two (2) proposals for consideration. Proposals should focus on the presenter's individual work and not promote use of consultant’s service or any fee-based materials.
Types of Presentations
Related Paper/Presentation Sessions
In a related paper or presentation session, presenters will have 10 minutes to share their work or research along with 2 other presenters that have completed work that is in a similar vein or conference strand. Each presenter will have 10 minutes to share their work or research with the last 15 minutes reserved for questions from the audience.
Workshop Sessions
Presenters will have 45 minutes to share their session either in a hands-on or lecture format.
Extended Workshop Sessions
These sessions will last 1 hour and 45 minutes and should use the entirety of the workshop to present a hands on experience for attendees.
Share-A-Thons
Attendees to the share-a-thon sessions should check the themes for their grade level and bring a lesson to share! Lessons will be shared informally, usually for 3-5 minutes as teachers circulate from table to table.
Elementary: Link idea/lesson to children's literature
Middle: bring your favorite idea to share!
High School: bring your favorite idea to share!
This year's Conference Chair is Dawn Bick
