Title:  Teaching Sustainability: Activities, Careers, and Real-World Connections 

Room: 321

Description:  Empower your students to take action for a better planet by connecting geoscience learning to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Explore AGI’s classroom-ready tools, including the Sustainability Interactive and Geoscience Career Explorer, and experience hands-on ways to bring sustainability into your teaching. 

Presenter: Education Specialist- Lauren Brase

Resources: https://www.americangeosciences.org/

Title : Beyond Carbon Dioxide 

Room: 300

Description: Carbon Dioxide has received much of the attention as the dominant greenhouse gas, but non-CO2 GHG as a whole contribute more to warming. Where do they come from, and how are we preventing their cumulation in the atmosphere? 

Contact:  Engineer, Scientist, and Associate Director Puneet Chhabra 

Resources: https://carboncontainmentlab.org/ 

Title: Conservation@School: Planting for the Future  

Room: 302

Description: "Think globally, act locally" is often said when talking about the environment. Supporting native plant habitats on school grounds is a great way to act locally, involve students in tangible, hands-on and hopeful actions to support plants and animals in the age of climate change. Join The Conservation Foundation to learn about their Conservation@School program and how you can create welcoming nature spaces right on school grounds that are good for people and nature in a changing climate. We will cover how educators can incorporate native plants and the outdoors into their lesson plans to help students build a strong connection with nature as well as how native plants are an important piece of the puzzle when combatting the negative impacts of Climate Change.  

Presenters: Conservation@Home Managers Beth Peluse and Carolyn Wagner

 Resources: https://theconservationfoundation.org/

Title      EF Tours (International Travel Experiences for Students) 

Room: 309

Description Discover the world with EF Tours! This session will highlight upcoming international travel opportunities for students, including trip destinations, educational benefits, and how travel can expand global perspectives. Attendees will learn how these experiences foster independence, cultural awareness, and lifelong memories beyond the classroom. 

Contact  Science Department Chair and EF ambassador Brian Glasby

 Resources: https://www.eftours.com/educational/collections/stem-tours

Title      Using DNA to infer shark and ray mating biology 

Room: 315

Description Kevin Feldheim is the A. Watson III Manager of the Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution. His research focuses on inferring the mating system and population biology of sharks using genetic markers called microsatellites, although he is broadly interested in many organisms. Microsatellites are short, tandem repeats in DNA (e.g, AGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAG) and are extremely useful in identifying individuals. In fact, these are the same types of genetic markers that are used in court cases and paternity tests. We use these markers in our lab to answer similar questions in other animals, plants, and fungi. 

Presenter: Manager of the Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution  Kevin Feldheim 

Resources: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/staff/profile/kevin-feldheim

Title: From the Ashes: Rethinking Land Management Practices to Match our Shifting Climate

Room: 316

Description Description: Discover how prescribed fire and shifting management practices shape ecosystems in a warming world. Through engaging, hands-on activities and classroom-ready experiments, participants will explore fire ecology & habitat resilience, and cover strategies to help students connect climate science to their local communities. 

Presenters: Naturalist  Derek Gronlund, Keriann Dubina, Jenny Kamm, Glenn Perricone, Kaela Khan 

Resources: https://www.dupageforest.org/

Title  A Climate of Inquiry: The Hidden Mysteries of Ice 

Room: 310

Description  Participants will engage in 2-3 classroom demonstrations using easy to prepare materials.  

Presenter: Golden Apple Teacher John Lewis and Mary Lewis

Resources: https://icedrill-education.org/

Title  One Month of Classroom Ready Climate Investigations-Overview of 7-Virtural Field Lab Series: 

Room: 360

Description Virtual Field Labs (VFL's) are free educational resources designed to engage students in scientific investigations alongside U.S. ice-drilling climate scientists. VFL's engage students in generating, analyzing and interpreting authentic data tied to polar/ice-sheet research and climate science. VFL's are structured inquiry investigations (“labs”) rather than purely videos — students make measurements and calculations, build data tables and graphs, analyze data and interpret trends. VFL's provide climate science connections to glaciology, oceanography, geology, chemistry, physics, remote sensing, mathematics, and other STEM domains. VFL's are meant to bring field-type data and inquiry into the classroom or remote learning settings. The seven virtual field labs explored in this overview session will include: 1. Looking for Hope on our Warming Planet 2. Climate Feedback Loops 3. Vital Signs of Thwaits, the Doomsday Glacier 4. Comparing Climate Change, Past and Present 5. Climate Warnings From Alaska 6. Abrupt Climate Disruptions 7. Ice Sheet Stability in a Warming World: Clues from the Past. The seven VFL series together contain over 20 classroom investigations. (Recommended grades 6-12) 

Contact : Golden Apple Teacher and IDP educational Leader Bill Grosser

Resources: https://icedrill-education.org/

Title  Finding Hope in a Warming World: Virtual Arctic Field Labs:

Room: 301

Climate change can feel overwhelming, but this session shows how students can explore solutions and discover hope. In three engaging virtual field lab episodes, students step into the shoes of climate and atmospheric scientists, analyzing real ice core, atmospheric, and ocean data to see how humans have both caused and solved environmental problems. The first investigation follows the story of acid rain as revealed in Greenland ice cores. The second explores how changes in our transportation system have left markers in the atmosphere and Greenland ice sheet that provide hope for the future. The final episode takes a deep dive into the scientific process and uncovers hope for the future through the surprisingly important “phytoplankton farts” of the North Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, students graph data, draw conclusions, and see firsthand how science is done, learning that our choices can truly make a difference. This session gives teachers a way to bring hands-on, hopeful climate science into the classroom and inspire the next generation of problem-solvers who will determine the future of the planet. This session would also be good for math teachers looking for a way to teach some math topics within a climate context. 

Presenter: Drew Pronovost, an atmospheric scientist from the University of Washington, and one of the lead facilitators in the virtual field lab series. (Recommended Grades 9-12) 

Resources: https://icedrill-education.org/

Title  Ice and Climate Explorations: Dissolved Gases and Ancient Ocean Temperatures. 

Room: 307

Unlock the secrets of Earth’s climate past! In this hands-on lab, teachers explore how warming oceans release gases and how scientists use ice cores to reconstruct ancient ocean temperatures. From fizzing soda experiments to graphing real climate data, participants dive into the same methods researchers use to study what our oceans were like millions of years ago. Bonus video shorts from climate scientists bring the process to life, giving you ready-to-use ideas and activities for the classroom. This breakout highlights the use of dissolved gases, solubility curves, and proxy data to unlock the past. 

Presenter: Jon Edwards, a former climate scientist, now a high school science teacher in OR for this breakout. (Recommended Grades 9-12) 

Resources: https://icedrill-education.org/

Title  Ice and Climate Explorations: Dating Ice Cores. 

Room: 303

Description: In this hands-on ICE Lab, teachers explore how climate scientists use ice cores to unlock Earth’s climate history and learn how to determine the age of ice spanning hundreds of thousands of years. Participants investigate five different dating techniques—from counting visible and invisible layers, to analyzing volcanic ash, sea salt ions, and electrical conductivity measurements—using real ice core data from Greenland and Antarctica. The lab emphasizes practical classroom skills, including analyzing data, graphing, and interpreting patterns, and building scientific consensus. All the activities use authentic climate data. Short “Drill Deeper” videos provide additional context and examples, giving teachers ready-to-use lessons to bring Earth’s climate story into their classrooms. 

Presenter: Join Marc VanKeuren for this breakout. Marc is an AP Environmental teacher from Sacramento who plays a key role in developing NSF Ice Drilling Program curriculum. (Recommended grades 9-12) .

Resources: https://icedrill-education.org/

Title:  Climate Warnings From Alaska: Authentic climate data collection and analysis. 

Room: 312

Description: This breakout will explore the Climate Warnings from Alaska virtual field lab series featuring Dr. Dom Winski. The series explores how snowfall and snow melt patterns in Alaska have shifted over time since the world shifted to a fossil fuel-based energy system. Students make their own measurements, create graphs, interpret real data and draw their own conclusions using ice cores and authentic climate data pulled from the slopes of Denali by Dom Winski. The series connects data from Alaska to global climate systems. You’ll leave with ready-to-use ideas and easy to use classroom resources. 

Presenter: Dom Winski will be leading the session providing an opportunity to interact and ask questions to the scientist that collected the ice cores. (Recommended grades 6-12) 

Resources: https://icedrill-education.org/

Title:  Introduction to Proxy Data. 

Room: 304

Description: This session is intended to introduce teachers to the concept of developing and using proxy data as a tool to explore the temperature history of the planet. In this hands-on breakout session, teachers first explore some introductory proxy activities before stepping into the role of paleoclimatologists by using a simple washer-based model to decode temperature signals hidden in ice cores. Participants will compare “ice core” samples to an ocean-water standard, calculate isotopic deviations, and graph how Earth’s climate has shifted over the past 500,000 years. This session gives teachers a classroom-ready lab that builds NGSS-aligned skills in data analysis, modeling, and argument from evidence—while helping understand how we know Earth’s climate history. 

Presenter: The session will be led by Dr. Erich Osterberg and Jacob Chalif, who will prioritize answering all your climate-proxy questions as they guide you through the activities. (Recommended grades 8-12) 

Resources: https://icedrill-education.org/

Title  Scientific Literacy in the Digital Age of Misinformation

Room: 306

Description: Students are being exposed to more misinformation and disinformation about science than ever before. NCSE’s free DataWISE tool scaffolds key science practices and media literacy skills to guide students in critical analysis of data-based claims.

Presenter: Education Specialists and science teachers - Britt Miller and Wendy Johnson

Resources: https://ncse.ngo/ncse-story-shorts

Title - Bur oaks in a nutshell

Room: 308

Description:  The future of our forests and savannas depends in large part on ability of the oaks that dominate in local ecosystems to adapt. This lecture provides an ecological and evolutionary perspective on how one of our most iconic and ecologically important oaks, the bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), migrates, exchanges genes with other oaks, shapes insect and fungal communities, and evolves in response to climate. From ancient acorns to future forests, the story of how oaks evolved and the many ways they shape our world.

Presenter: Herbarium Director and Senior Scientist Dr. Andrew Hipp - Author of  "Oak Origins"

Resources: https://mortonarb.org/science/staff/andrew-l-hipp/

Title: How can we integrate computer science to support designing solutions for a changing Earth? Introducing OpenSciEd Middle School + Computer Science Unit 7.6 Earth’s Resources & Human Impact

Room: 319

Description How does computer science integration deepen student’s use of engineering design to solve water problems for the local community? Discover what is different in a free, upcoming OpenSciEd 7th grade middle school science + computer science unit on Earth’s Resources & Human Impact. Students investigate case studies of several communities throughout the United States facing water problems such as increased flooding or drought. Hear how students engage with micro:bit devices and sensors to collect and analyze data around water, climate, and atmospheric changes, which supports the development of related Earth and Space Science disciplinary core ideas. The program behind the micro:bit and sensors, MakeCode, is explored and edited as students design devices that can be used as solutions to address water problems and carbon imbalances

Takeaway: Students' investigations into changing Earth systems (e.g., temperature, water, atmosphere) are enhanced through the use of computing devices which also allow for the development of computer science and engineering ideas embedded throughout the unit. 

Presenters Chemistry lead Nicole Vick and  Associate Director at Northwestern Michael Novak 

Resources: https://openscied.org/ 

Title  Connecting Sustainability and Climate Science in the Classroom to the Community

Room: 352

Description: Local governments provide a number of services and have various policies that are relevant to the environment. Connecting STEM concepts and lessons to your local community can provide valuable context that reinforces understanding, as well as helping identify opportunities for promoting sustainability in your community. This session will review a framework for linking STEM concepts to community sustainability efforts and measuring environmental impacts. 

Contact  Environmental Sustainability  Coordinator Jason Michnick

Resources: https://www.downers.us/environmental-sustainability

Title: Nature: Where you live, work and play. 

Room: 349

Description: Creating and restoring natural habitats in the urban, suburban and rural areas is critically important today. It has a million benefits and encompasses many professions. We connect everyone to our shared environment by communicating through their values. 

Presenter: President of Pizzo Group - Land restoration - Jack Pizzo

Resources: https://www.pizzonursery.com/   https://habitatrestoration.com/  

Title  Weird Weather, Wetlands, and Amphibians.

Room: 351

Description:  This session will take a look at how climate change causes 'weather weirding' and how the changes in weather patterns affect our local wetland ecosystems. With a focus on amphibian communities, we will discuss 1) how local amphibian might adapt to climate change and 2) how restoration can help ensure amphibians survive and thrive. 

Presenter: Research Biologist Melissa Youngquist

Resources: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/about-shedd/leadership/research-experts/melissa-youngquist-ph-d 

Title  Teaching for Climate Resilience: K–12 Resources for Illinois Classrooms 

Room: 354

Description : This interactive workshop is designed for K–12 educators who want to bring relevant, accessible climate education into their classrooms. The session will highlight SubjectToClimate’s Illinois Climate Education Hub, which feature curated, place-based materials that connect climate science to issues in the local communities.

Contact : Education Coordinator and Science Teacher Katie Nahrwold 

Resource: https://subjecttoclimate.org/ 

Title: EARTH Workshop  

Room: 356

Description:  Connecting teachers with ocean researchers, curriculum, resources and experiences that puts real-time data and current issues in the hands of teachers to make their lessons more relevant and engaging. Resources such as the Argo floats that can be adopted and personalized by classes, databases and interactive maps that are used in the EARTH lesson plans. Curriculum from the EARTH website that uses these tools and a list of free presentations, workshops, webinars, video tours etc. that allow teachers to converse with/learn from research scientists and/or tour the technology and labs used to conduct the research

Presenter: Science teacher and EARTH ambassador Laurie Nannini  

Resources https://www.mbari.org/education/education-research-testing-hypotheses-earth/workshops/

Title: Learning on a warming planet: Climate emotions in the classroom

Room: 362

Description: In this session we will examine the ways that students' emotions about climate change (e.g., anxiety, grief, hope) intersect with and influence how and what they learn in classrooms across the curriculum. Best practices for supporting students' emotions while teaching with urgent hope will be explored including the use of regenerative paradigms and co-creating futures with students. 

Presenter: Assistant Professor in Education Policy Organization and Leadership - Samantha Lindgren 

Resources: https://education.illinois.edu/profile/samantha-lindgren 

Title:  Research and best practices for communicating and teaching about climate change

Room: 364

Description: This session is led by University of Illinois Extension who will present on research from communications and psychology that provide the evidence basis for tips and tricks for how to most effectively teach and communicate about climate change. Research shows that storytelling, action-oriented and hope-inspired messaging, and meaningful metaphors are the most effective ways to communicate about climate change; leave the graphs, numbers about atmospheric CO2 concentration, and atmospheric chemistry for later, and first draw audiences in to care and get activated through using these communication best practices. These best practices are easy to integrate into climate change lesson planning and build curriculum that inspires students to be climate communication leaders in their own communities and then follow inquiry-based approaches to have students explore what climate action looks like in their own lives.

Presenter: Environmental Social Scientist -Jessica Rudnick 

Resource: https://extension.illinois.edu/staff/jessica-rudnick