Keynote & Invited Speakers
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2026
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KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Raven Baxter Molecular Biologist Title: The Science of Connection: How Culture, Creativity, and Trust Transform Learning. Biography: Dr. Raven Baxter, known globally as Dr. Raven the Science Maven, is a molecular biologist, science communicator, and learning scientist whose work lives at the intersection of culture and scientific excellence. Her research examines how hip-hop, identity, and storytelling shape the way people understand and trust science. With a following of over 325,000 online, she treats her platform as a living laboratory, publicly testing science communication theory in real time. A former science teacher and academic advisor, she brings that classroom experience into everything she does. She founded The Science Haven, a national nonprofit expanding access to science education, and serves as Director of Development and Partnerships for the Association of Science Communicators, where she founded the Science Communication Consortium on Ethics. Her honors include Forbes 30 Under 30 and Fortune 40 Under 40. |
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INVITED SPEAKER
Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis Co-founder of Data Nuggets Title: Bringing authentic data and science stories into the classroom with Data Nuggets Dr. Elizabeth Schultheis is the co-founder of Data Nuggets and the Education & Outreach Coordinator for the Long Term Ecological Research Program at the Kellogg Biological Station. She directs the KBS LTER’s community engagement, education, and communications initiatives. As a broadly trained plant biologist, ecologist, and discipline based education researcher, Elizabeth uses her scientific and communication skills to help scientists share their stories and research with broad audiences to promote a passion for science and data literacy in the next generation. Data Nuggets are free classroom activities, co-designed by scientists and teachers. They bring contemporary research and authentic data into the K-12 classroom. Data Nuggets feature a scientist and the story of what inspired their research. Students are guided through the entire process of science, including identifying hypotheses and predictions, making and interpreting graphs, supporting claims using data as evidence, and asking their own questions for future research. Data Nuggets have been shown to increase student engagement in the classroom and promote an interest in STEM careers in the next generation. In this hands-on session, participants will get an introduction to Data Nuggets, explore an authentic dataset, and get many resources that are ready to use in their classroom the next day! |
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2025
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FELLOWS SPEAKER
Dr. Scott W. Tinker Switch Energy Alliance Title: A New Path for Energy and Climate in the 21st Century Dr. Scott W. Tinker is a global energy explorer and educator bringing industry, government, academia, and nongovernmental organizations together to address major societal challenges in energy, the environment, and the economy. Following a 17-year career in the energy industry, Dr. Tinker spent 24 years as an Endowed Professor and Director of the 250-person Bureau of Economic Geology at UT Austin. He is CEO of Tinker Energy Associates and Chairman and CEO of the nonprofit Switch Energy Alliance. With Director Harry Lynch, Tinker co-produced and is featured in the award-winning documentary films Switch and Switch On, screened to millions of viewers globally. Tinker is the host of Energy Switch, an energy and climate point-counterpoint show appearing on over 80% of PBS stations and on major podcast channels, and the voice of Earth Date, featured on over 460 public radio stations nationwide. His writing appears from Forbes to Fortune to Scientific American. In his visits to some 60 countries, Tinker has given over 1100 keynote and invited lectures and presented a TEDx on The Dual Challenge: Energy and Environment. Tinker has been president of several international scientific societies, serves on many public, private and academic boards and councils, and is an angel investor bringing companies from startup to sale. He is an AGI Campbell Medalist, AAPG Halbouty Medalist, GCAGS Boyd Medalist, AIPG Parker Medalist, and a Geological Society of America Fellow. |
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INVITED SPEAKER
Thomas Jay Pennell Research Support Specialist Title: Add “a little” Nano to your STEM Curriculum! Join Tom Pennell from the Cornell Nanoscale Facility (CNF) to learn about the many educational opportunities available at their cleanroom research facility. The CNF is a world class research cleanroom facility located on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY. This program will explore tools and events ranging from in person visits to the facility for k-12 students, free STEM kits that align with core disciplines (and the standards) to CNF’s unique new VR educational platform. Come explore ways to bring nano into your classroom and inspire your students to be a part of the rapidly expanding semiconductor industry in New York State! This program will offer free STEM kits, copies of CNF’s Nanooze magazine for young readers and a first hand look at their VR content. |