Conference Special Events

At this year's Annual Conference, STANYS and its partners will be offering different opportunities for attendees to learn more before or during the conference. We will also have two dinner receptions - the Friday Night Event and the Fellows and Past Presidents' Reception - where attendees can network with other fellow educators and leaders in science education. All of these special events have an additional fee, so please be sure to select one or more of these events when you register for the conference. 
Friday Pre-Conference Workshop
Interested attendees can register for the full-day workshop separately from the Annual Conference and as an add-on to their Annual Conference registration. The Friday full-day offering will allow attendees to dive deep into the NYS Climate Initiative.
Friday, November 6th
​​8:30AM - 4​:00PM
Marriott Syracuse Downtown
Fee: $175​
Making Climate Science Stick: From Classroom to Community and Beyond
Bring climate science to life in ways that truly resonate with students. This engaging pre-conference experience will focus on NYSSLS-aligned, classroom-ready strategies that connect learning to real-world issues and local communities. Explore hands-on approaches, student-driven projects, and cross-disciplinary connections that empower learners to think critically and take meaningful action - because when students see the impact, science sticks!

​Join us to move beyond the textbook to focus on NYSSLS-aligned, classroom-ready strategies that center on:
  • Place-Based Learning: Connecting curriculum to the heartbeat of local communities.
  • Student-Driven Inquiry: Leveraging hands-on projects that empower learners to solve real-world problems.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Synergy: Integrating critical thinking across subjects to foster a holistic understanding of climate resilience.

Throughout the day, you will be energized by plenary sessions featuring world-class leaders in climate communication and science, including:
  • The Wild Center: Pioneers in youth climate summits and regional engagement.
  • The Paleontological Research Institution (PRI): Experts in Earth systems and climate history.
  • The Institute for Human Education: Bridging the gap between human behavior and environmental solutions.
 
Monday In-Conference Institute
This special institute on Monday morning is available to Annual Conference attendees for an additional cost to cover breakfast for the day. For individuals wishing to attend the institute but not the full conference, you must register for the "Monday Only" conference registration and select the PRI Institute as an add-on. 
Monday, November 9th
​​7:30AM - 12​:00PM
Marriott Syracuse Downtown
​Fee: $55
​(plus conference registration)​
PRI Monday Institute: Urgent responses for a resilient future: Perspectives on climate change past and present
At this year’s STANYS Annual Conference you’ll learn about climate science, solutions, and strategies for teaching about them. Placing modern climate change in the context of Earth history highlights the need for urgent action. Join us to explore the rate and scale of climate change in the geologic past and the present, and the implications for life on the planet. We’ll share hands-on activities to engage students in your classroom and community.
STANYS Dinner Receptions
The following two dinner receptions are available for Annual Conference attendees only. During registration, you will be asked if you would like to add these two events to your registration ticket. 
Friday Night Event:
Dinner and Trivia
November 6th, 2026  
​7:30PM - 10:00PM
Fee: $60
Ready for a night of connection, science and fun? Join us at the Oncenter for a delightful dinner and engaging science trivia. 
Fellows and Past Presidents' Reception
Sunday, November 9th
​4:30PM - 5:30PM
Fee: $30
Come join STANYS Fellows and past leaders for a passed hors d'oeuvres reception before the Fellows Dinner & Induction ceremony on Sunday evening at the Oncenter. Learn from the wealth of knowledge from these innovative and influential New York science leaders in this unique networking opportunity. Professional attire is required to attend. 
Science Teachers Association of New York State (STANYS)