STEM AND SUSTAINABILITY
Nurturing Individuals, Transforming Communities
STAN 2025 • Virtual Conference • February 25-27, 2025
Join us in February for three days of
professional development and networking opportunities.
Join us to explore the transformative power of STEM to create a thriving planet—starting with thriving individuals! The STAN Conference is your gateway to a vibrant community of science communicators, educators, researchers, and industry leaders who understand that the well-being of our planet begins with the well-being of its people.
This year’s conference centers on the compelling idea that when individuals flourish, so does the world. We’ll dive deep into the connections between STEM literacy, mental and physical health, community wellness, and environmental sustainability. By empowering individuals through STEM, we pave the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for all.
Join us for an engaging experience filled with workshops, panel discussions, and networking sessions designed to inspire and equip you with the tools to make a difference. This is your opportunity to connect, collaborate, and create strategies that foster a thriving STEM ecosystem—one that nurtures both people and the planet.
Let’s come together to uplift one another, cultivate our communities, and build a better tomorrow through the power of individual well-being and global sustainability. Don’t miss your chance to be at the forefront of this exciting movement!
Program Information
Registration Information
Individual - $50.00
Group of 3 - $95
Student - $25
Group of 5 - $150
Questions? Contact us
Group of 10 - $250
Session Highlights
Navigating conversations with science deniers– the choice is yours
Renée-Claude Goulet, Michelle Campbell Mekarski, Cassandra Marion
Science Advisors, Canada Aviation and Space Museum (Ingenium Canada)
Explore tools to navigate challenging conversations with science deniers, all while preserving your own mental health. Through a unique “choose what happens next” approach, explore ways to nurture relationships and keep conversations constructive and positive.
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Dismantling the SySTEM
Dr. Svetlana Barkanova, Dr Kevin Hewitt, Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie
Join the NSERC Chairs for Inclusion in Science and Engineering - Atlantic (CISE-Atlantic) for a rapid-fire session of learning and sharing. From recognizing the realities of rural and remote communities in Labrador to exploring the question “why STEM?”, this session emphasizes the need for collaborative, cross-disciplinary, multi-pronged approaches to EDI and STEM outreach work. Participants will reflect on their own positionality and experiences within the STEM ecosystem, drawing connections between one another and leaving with tools to foster more inclusive environments.
Preliminary Program- displayed in Eastern Time
February 25, 2025
11:00-11:30: Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
STAN
11:30-12:30: Session #1 Dismantling the SySTEM
Presented by Dr Kevin Hewitt, Dr. Svetlana Barkanova, Dr. Stephanie MacQuarrie (NSERC)
Followed by open networking
13:30-14:00: Annual General Meeting
STAN
14:00-15:15: Session #2 Creating STEM Equity models to move organizations forward
Presented by Dr. Julia Lalande, Sandra Corbeil, Catherine Paisley, Kristin Chong, Samantha David (OSC/Ingenium)
15:15-16:00: Session #3 Networking with your Peers
Presented by STAN
February 26, 2025
11:00-11:30: Check-in | Coffee & Open Chat
11:30-12:30: Session #4 STEM for a Thriving Future: Integrating Well-being and Sustainability into Education
Presented by janice (jae) williams (Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition)
Followed by open networking
13:30-14:30 Session #5 Supporting Young Minds: Education as a Tool Against Climate Anxiety
Presented by Breanne Aylward, Valerie Miller, Gabrielle Veilleux, Kassandra Boddie (University of Alberta/Let's Talk Science)
14:45-14:55 Ignite Session: From Fantasy to Fact: How Fiction Fosters STEM Literacy
Presented by Conan Lee, M.A. Graduate in Science Education, The University of British Columbia
15:00-16:00 Session #6 STEM through the arts: How Gamification and StoryMaps Play a Role in Science Education Outreach
Presented by Dr. Poh Tan, Melissa Chung, Philip Randle Newcombe, Jaehyun Jun (SFU/STEMedgeInc./Carr University of Art and Design)
February 27, 2025
11:00-11:30: Check-in | Coffee & Open Chat
11:30-12:30: Session #7 Playing at the intersection of STEM and the arts: Collaborative learning with Cultivating Ensembles
Presented by Carolyn Sealfon, Barbara J. Natalizio, Sofya Borinskaya, Marisa A. Holzapfel (Cultivating Ensembles)
Followed by open networking
13:30-14:30: Session #8 Learning as an Experience: STEAM's Evolving Frameworks
Presented by Ashley Miller (Stirplate Studio | Ashley EM Miller Science Communication)
Followed by open networking
15:00-16:00: Session #9 Conversations with science deniers – the choice is yours
Renée-Claude Goulet, Michelle Campbell Mekarski, Cassandra Marion (Ingenium Canada)
Followed by open networking
Thank you to our Sponsors
Call for Proposals - Now Closed
Submission Deadline: October 28, 2024
Conference to be held on February 25-27, 2025
STAN's mission is to connect members so they have a shared platform for sharing their stories, trouble-shoot issues collectively, discuss best practices to enrich the national STEM culture. With your experience and expertise, we can jointly develop a unique conference experience.
In order to support the growth and development of both attendees and the field at large, STAN encourages the development of session proposals that keep science literacy at heart. We are hoping to create a vision of the future of Canadian STEM.
Please download the document below for all details.
Submit a document with the following information, by email to stanrsst@gmail.com before end-of-day October 28, 2024 with subject line "Conference Proposal 2025"