CENTRAL COAST — Students from South Monterey County will be among this year’s participants at the STEM Education Central Coast Conference, a collaboration between California State University Monterey Bay and University of California Santa Cruz.
The 2024 Conference will bring together formal and informal STEM educators, emerging teachers, students and community partners in order to share best practices, research and resources. It will take place Saturday, Feb. 3, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., at the Monterey Conference Center.
This year’s theme is sustainability, and breakout sessions will cover climate classroom curriculum, career paths, regional food systems, science fairs, math games and more. Judit Camacho, an advocate for garden-based education and currently serving as the co-executive director at Life Lab, will deliver the keynote speech.
Participating organizations include the Monterey Bay Aquarium, CalRecycle, Elkhorn Slough Foundation, Monterey Bay Area Mathematics Project (MBAMP) and the Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy (MIRA).
School districts, including Alisal, Gonzales, Monterey Peninsula, Salinas Union, Santa Cruz, San Ardo, San Lucas and four others, are participating.
“There are several benefits to students,” said Corin Slown, CSUMB associate professor of science education. “The opportunity to professionally network, explore disciplines in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, discover sustainable and innovative ways to care for our local region, and of course have fun!”
To make science more fun and engaging for young people, the organizers have assembled a thematic playlist, including “Sunflower, Vol. 6” by Harry Styles, “Sun is Shining” by Bob Marley and the Wailers, “Flower Power” by Greta Van Fleet and others.
The first conference took place at CSUMB’s Library; the following year it moved to the Monterey Conference Center. For more information and registration, go to the event website stemedccc.org.
