Science of STEM Literacy Conference

Lighting Pathways Toward STEM Literacy Success

Bringing together educators to learn about new STEM literacy approaches to teaching and learning.

Sul Ross State University Alpine Campus

Monday July 22, 2024 | 9-2 PM CT | Morelock Academic Building, 3rd Floor

FREE for all Educators, STEM professionals, and Public who register early!

Lunch Provided.

NASA's Mitzi Adams

Mitzi Adams joined the NASA workforce in March, 1988 as a graduate co-op student; she was made a permanent employee in January 1991, upon completion of the Master’s Degree. Ms. Adams’ primary research work until approximately 2006, involved the use of ground-based data from Marshall Space Flight Center’s (MSFC) solar vector magnetograph. With the launch of Hinode in 2006 and the Solar Dynamics Observatory in 2010, Ms. Adams switched from ground-based data to data acquired in space. Primarily using data from those two missions, Ms. Adams has investigated questions of the origins and triggers of solar jets and flares. Earlier in her career, Ms. Adams supported her Branch Chief, Dr. John Davis, with analysis of data from tests of a Solar X-ray Imager that launched in 2001 on the GOES-12 spacecraft. Participating as a volunteer at the Fernbank Science Center in Atlanta, Ga. and the Von Braun Astronomical Society in Huntsville, AL, Ms. Adams gained experience with education and outreach activities, which she has continued to develop throughout her career, most recently leading and participating in the 2023 annular and the 2024 total solar eclipses. In 2020, Ms. Adams was named Assistant Manager for the Heliophysics and Planetary Branch of NASA/MSFC.

The Power of Participatory Science: NASA SoundScape and the 2023-24 North American Eclipses

Dr. Chris Ritzi Noyce Mentor & Co-PI
Noyce Scholars Halie Fox, & Jose Gloria

Discover the power of mentoring and data science through lessons learned from the NASA Soundscapes eclipse program. Discover how applications like iNaturalist can assist educators to improve student engagement and disciplinary literacy using multisensory approaches.

Dr. Chris Ritzi received his BA from Texas A&M University in Biology before moving on to Sul Ross State University and earning his MS in Biology for work on bat ectoparasites. He then moved to Terre Haute, Indiana to earn his PhD in Ecology studying ectoparasitic relationships of bats in Indiana. Upon completion of this degree, he returned to Texas and one of his alma maters to become the invertebrate zoologist at Sul Ross State University. Leading an active research program, Chris has authored/coauthored 51 peer-reviewed publications, over 120 professional presentations, and several published illustrations and technical reports. His service to Sul Ross State University includes numerous university and school committees, as well as serving as the Chair of the Biology/BGPS department from 2007-2020, and most recently the Biology Program Director since Fall 2023. He has mentored 50 undergraduate projects, 20 Masters students, and 1 Ph.D. student to since working at Sul Ross.

Utilizing Data Science with Citizen CATE

Noyce Scholar and Citizen CATE Lead Trainer
Andrea Rivera

Andrea Rivera is a math Noyce scholar attending Sul Ross State University and a graduate of Southwest Texas Junior College and Uvalde CISD. Andrea's goal is to complete a math degree and teaching certification and Professor. Andrea's first language is Spanish and my family is very important to her. Andrea is a first-generation student, the first to complete an associate degree with SWTJC, and the first to pursue a BS at SRSU.

Eagle Pass ISD's
Alejandra Martínez

Alejandra Martínez is a 7th grade teacher in Eagle Pass, Texas. She has been teaching for 18 years and is a National Geographic Certified Educator, Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, PolarTREC educator and has sailed aboard the JOIDES Resolution, the RV Atlantis and the EV Nautilus as an Education and Outreach Officer and Science Communication Fellow. Her field experiences in the Indian Ocean, Cayman Islands, Arctic, Colombia and Panama are shared with her students through a variety of hands-on activities, awakening the scientist within them.

Sul Ross State's Media Guy Robert Greeson

Robert Greeson is a multi-disciplined artist with 30+ years experience in a vast array of diverse projects. Has travelled extensively to 50+ countries and all seven continents, is the author of three books of photography, has three Grammy nominations for design, and has photography in the Smithsonian permanent collection. Graduated University of Texas at Austin with BFA in Photography & Design and BS in Meso-American Archaeology. Currently employed by Sul Ross State University as the Sul Ross ‘Media Guy’, teaches two photography classes and is a backyard astronomer when he can stay awake long enough.

Universal Design for Learning using AI and Data Science

Noyce Scholars
Madeline Haas & John Aguero

Discover how AI integrated with the Universal Design for Learning Framework increases engagement through choice, improves representation to foster critical thinking skills and provides increased opportunities to express understanding through creation tools that incorporate digital literacy. Take online and hybrid lesson ideas and resources to incorporate in all content areas. Discover how Noyce math scholars utilized data science to improve engagement and representation of content to improve the public's understanding of eclipse science.

Digital Literacy and AI Optimization for Innovation

Nadine Mannhart is a dyslexia therapist and has a M.A. in Education from SMU with a specialization in Early Literacy. She works with the Literacy Coalition of the Permian Basin as the Outreach and Recruitment Coordinator in the Trans-Pecos area setting up new digital literacy, ESL, and GED programs for adults and literacy programs for children ages 0-4.

Jeehyun Park

Jeehyun is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Science Mill, where she drives optimization of processes, materials, and technology for educational programs. Being born and raised in Midland and having studied engineering at Texas A&M and UT Austin, Jeehyun is #texasforever. After graduate school, Jeehyun taught high school physics and coached girls volleyball and boys powerlifting, before moving into an administrative role leading project-based learning campuses. Jeehyun joined the Science Mill team in February 2022, where she has had the opportunity to manage and expand large-scale programs, both on- and off-site, to provide interactive STEM career exploration and experiences to underserved students across Texas and beyond. Outside of work, you can usually find Jeehyun spoiling her two tiny monsters (dogs), Beans and Alfie, or hunting down the best chocolate babka in town.

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