Dr. Adetola Ariyike Salau is an internationally respected education policy strategist, STEM curriculum specialist, and advocate for inclusive learning systems across Africa.

With over two decades of experience spanning classroom teaching, government advisory, and global think tank engagement, she is passionate about transforming education into a tool for sustainable development, particularly through STEM and girl-child empowerment.

She currently serves as the Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister of Education on STEMM Education and Corporate Sector Engagement for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She was the Special Adviser on Education, Policy Formulation, and Human Capital Development to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Nigeria (2023 to 2025.) In this role, she leads initiatives that align with SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities), workforce readiness , working to embed future-readiness, digital literacy, and equity into education systems. 

From 2020 to 2023, she served as Senior Special Assistant on Education to the Governor of Lagos State, where she oversaw major public education reforms impacting thousands.

She is the founder of Carisma4U Educational Foundation (now ELIA AFRICA Development Initiative), a social impact organization delivering scalable STEM education programs for underserved communities, with a strong focus on empowering girls and re-engineering mindsets. 

She is frequently invited to consult on curriculum reform, teacher development, and education strategy design.

An alumna of Fordham University, Syracuse University, and the University at Buffalo (SUNY), she holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning.

 Her global affiliations include fellowships with the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s STEM4SD advisory group, the HP Cambridge EdTech Fellowship, and the MIT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp.

She is also a prolific author, having written over 12 books on STEM education and cognitive development, including Reimagining African Education, Bridging Two Worlds, Re-engineering Minds for Innovative Thinking and Future Readiness in Education. Her insights have been featured in international education journals, policy roundtables, and keynote addresses. 

She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Ambassador of STEM Award, the Africa Award for Excellence, and the LAI Research Excellence Award.

Her work bridges policy and practice to create learning environments that prepare Africa’s youth.

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Lisa McDonald is editor at The American Ceramic Society, where she oversees the public communication of ceramic and glass science to a general audience through written, auditory, and visual mediums. She has B.A.s in physics and communication studies from Coe College and a master’s in science communication from Laurentian University. She is passionate about raising awareness of the science communication field, thereby inspiring potential new career pathways for students studying science.

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Denise Ruffner is a business leader in advanced computing technologies and a highly regarded keynote speaker known for making emerging innovations accessible and actionable. With a deep understanding of next-generation computing modalities, she has built a career helping organizations embrace the future of technology to drive innovation, growth, and business value.

Denise is widely sought after for her ability to demystify complex topics, providing audiences with clear context on the evolving computing ecosystem, the strengths of different offerings, and the business models shaping the industry. She is also recognized for her forward-looking perspective on where these technologies are headed and their long-term potential.

With over a decade of experience in quantum computing, Denise is passionate about building a more inclusive workforce. This commitment led her to co-found Diversity in Quantum (DiviQ.org), an organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting diverse talent in the field.

As a strategic advisor and business development consultant, Denise has helped numerous companies raise capital, craft go-to-market strategies, and build partnerships that accelerate growth.

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Shubha Tewari is a Senior Lecturer II in Physics and the director of the STEM Education Institute at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She also currently serves as the Associate Undergraduate Program director in the Physics Department. A theoretical condensed matter physicist, she uses computer simulation methods to study the collective behavior of soft matter systems such as granular materials and foams. Most of her research these days is done in collaboration with undergraduates, something she greatly enjoys. 

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Hi, I'm Aarya and I’m an IB Diploma student in Singapore with a love for exploring the world through science. Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry challenge me to think critically, and I’ve been fortunate to achieve 9A* grades in IGCSE and distinctions in international math competitions. Beyond formulas and experiments, I’m passionate about applying science to real-world problems, like a recent project on food degradation and sustainable waste management.I thrive in leadership and collaboration, serving as Vice President of my school’s Research Society and taking part in Model United Nations and law conferences. Volunteering as a tutor for underprivileged students has taught me the power of education to create opportunity. I’m particularly committed to advancing gender equity in STEM, believing that empowering young women in physics is essential for inclusive innovation. Through curiosity, advocacy, and hands-on exploration, I aim to contribute meaningfully to science and society.

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Dr. Donna Kashian a professor in the Department of Biology at Wayne State University, where she also directs the Environmental Science Program and the UN Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Education for Sustainable Development in the Detroit-Windsor region. Outside of WSU she is the President of the International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) and a board member for the Science Advisory panel for the International Joint Commission. Her research focuses on Great Lakes water quality, examining how disturbances such as invasive species and contaminants affect aquatic communities. She integrates science, policy, and community engagement often through an environmental justice lens, and her work has been incorporated into statewide monitoring efforts and public education programs.

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Claudia Fracchiolla is Head of Public Engagement at the American Physical Society (APS), where she leads programs that help scientists engage communities through dialogue, outreach, and partnerships that strengthen trust in science. A Venezuelan native with training in astro-particle/high-energy physics and over a decade of experience in physics education research, she brings an evidence-based approach to advancing inclusive participation in STEM—especially in informal learning spaces where identity, belonging, and opportunity are shaped.

Claudia also serves as Secretariat Coordinator for the UNESCO-endorsed International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ) 2025, overseeing global operations, partnerships, and strategic events that connect science, education, and international cooperation. Her work focuses on expanding access to scientific knowledge and career pathways, supporting diverse leadership in emerging technologies, and building collaborations that translate research into societal benefit. She is committed to fostering environments where women and underrepresented groups can fully participate in shaping the future of science and innovation, and where the benefits of quantum science and technology contribute to more equitable and sustainable development.

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Elisa Torres Durney is a Chilean social entrepreneur and STEM activist, recognised globally for advancing gender diversity in quantum computing and STEM education.

 She is the Founder and CEO of Girls in Quantum, a non-profit making quantum education more accessible, while empowering women and underrepresented communities in STEM.

Through her leadership, Girls in Quantum has reached more than 8,000 students across over 60 countries, and Elisa has shared her work on more than fifty global stages, including the United Nations, UNESCO, IBM, EY, TEDx, and The Economist.

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Zahra Hazari is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Teaching & Learning and STEM Transformation Institute as well as affiliate faculty in the Department of Physics at Florida International University. She holds a B.S. in physics and mathematics, M.S. in physics, and Ph.D. in science/physics education. Dr. Hazari’s research focuses on reforming physics/STEM learning environments to enable new opportunities for defining and developing physics/STEM identities. This work has led to her being elected a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS) and previously earned her a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award.  

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Laureen is a graduate from Pwani University in Kenya with a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management and currently serving in the Tourism Professional Association as an Executive Member in the Finance and Budget Committee. 

She is also an active volunteer with SDG 7 Constituency & Africa for SDGs to accelerate the localization and implementation of the 17 SDGs. Her favorite SDGs are SDG 7, 11 &12.

She also serves as the Africa Marketing and Outreach Co-ordinator at Care About Climate.

Emily Edwards is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke University and an affiliate of Duke Quantum Center.  She received a PhD from the University of Maryland in the area of ultracold atomic physics and was a postdoctoral researcher in ion trap quantum information science. Edwards’ primary area of activity is in science communication with a focus on developing and studying multimedia content to increase awareness, interest, and knowledge about quantum information science and physics. In addition, Edwards co-leads the National Q-12 Education Partnership, a consortium that works with teachers to bring quantum science topics into their classrooms and connect students with emerging careers in this field.  Since 2011, she has co-created multiple resources for the public of all ages to learn about quantum-related physics concepts.  Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Illinois Quantum Information Science and Technology Center at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (2019-2024) and the Director of Communications/Outreach at the University of Maryland (2011-2019). Edwards is a Fellow of the American Physical Society. 

Samantha works as the public and environmental health policy manager at Michigan Environmental Council, where she works to advance equitable policies related to issues like air quality, drinking water quality, lead-safe homes, plastics, PFAs, and other contaminants in our environment that harm human health. Additionally, she is a graduate student at Wayne State University where she is working on a dual title masters in public health and urban sustainability. She is a UNRCE fellow at the university where she supports initiatives on campus that advance sustainability within the SE Michigan region. 

Lady Tee Thompson is the principal of the international organization AgroBiz.org and the founder of Cashew Queens, an emerging social enterprise. Her current roles are Co-Chair, of United Nations Association of the USA Women’s Affinity Group and Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee, and Gender Equality Expert.

Among her professional advocacy responsibilities are women’s self-sufficiency, equity and equality, African descendant diaspora inclusion, youth and women’s empowerment, agricultural and entrepreneurial skills transfer, and investment matchmaking for women & minority companies. Lady Tee holds a Master’s in Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Legal Administration from the prestigious University of Detroit Mercy. She lives in the metro Detroit area with her family.

Dr. Mallory Smith is a fragment separator physicist at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams, part of Michigan State University. Her work over the last 7 years has centered on developing and studying the rare isotope beams FRIB creates with an in-flight beam fragment separator. She has over a decade of experience in experimental nuclear physics that started as an undergraduate student. After graduating college with a degree in physics, she went to graduate school for nuclear physics, finishing her PhD in 2017. Dr. Smith has been and remains active in supervision of undergraduate and graduate students in nuclear science research. Students mentored have presented their works at conferences within MSU and at national conferences, and one undergraduate student has gone on to graduate school in nuclear physics. She proposed and was PI on experiments run at the NSCL and at Argonne National Lab, resulting in publications in peer-reviewed journals. She has presented her research at national and international conferences. In addition, she has consistently participated in mentoring, outreach activities and training. Notably, she has been an instructor and lecturer at the Physics of Atomic Nuclei program for high school students since 2016, for which she designed a Fragment Separator 101 class. She is also a frequent lecturer at the Nuclear Science Summer School – the only undergraduate summer school for nuclear physics in the US.