More than 350 educators from across the state gathered at Camp Calvin Crest in Fremont in late September for the 2013 Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS) conference. The three-day event drew more than 45 presentations and four workshops full of content for teachers K-12. With topics ranging from Harry Potter's Chemistry to Ph-antastic Physics to building robots and wind turbines the teachers went home with many new ideas to inspire their students.
In addition to the sessions, Dr. Dennis Molfese and Dr. Victoria Molfese teamed up to deliver a keynote address to a standing room only crowd of attendees. The topic of their keynote was the Brain’s Role in Learning. Dennis Molfese, the Director of the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is an internationally recognized expert who has published more than 160 books and articles on the emerging relationships between brain development, language and cognitive processes from infancy into adulthood. Dr. Victoria Molfese, a leading researcher in the area of cognitive development in infants, children and adults, is a Chancellor's Professor in the Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies at UNL.
Other highlights include the Maiben lecture (given by Joseph Brus) and the recognition of outstanding educators within our state.
Congratulations go out to Jon Pedersen (UNL) and Tyler Berzina (Millard West High School) for receiving Catalyst awards to recognize their contributions to science education in Nebraska and to Jim Woodland (Nebraska Department of Education) for receiving a new Leadership award.
The Nebraska Association for Teachers of Science also presented Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science Teaching to Teresa Bender (Omaha North Middle School), Angela Bergman (Westside High School) and Sean Putnam (Lincoln High School).