| Washington State's Only Science Education Conference! Live and In-Person! Saturday, October 24, 2026 Sehome High School Bellingham, WA (Pre-Events on October 23) |
Great science teaching matters more than ever.
Our conference mission is to empower and equip science teachers to take on the challenge of creating a scientifically literate society. Through cutting edge presentations, inspiring speakers, and intentional community building activities, we are committed to being here for you.
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Join us for exciting presentations, outdoor learning adventures, social gatherings, STEM clock hours, prizes, vendors, and great learning about science and environmental education. With pre-events happening on Friday, October 23rd and the keynote, exhibit hall, sessions, and lunch on Saturday the 24th. We hope to see you there!
SCHEDULE OVERVIEW
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Conference Program | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| LINKS! | Information |
| Conference Registration |
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| Learn More About Our District Deal | $175 - DISTRICT DEAL - Includes Clock Hours and Membership |
| Become a WSTA Member | Get $50 off of the conference rate by becoming a member for $25! |
| Exhibitor Registration |
Exhibitor registration is now open, check out our reduced rate for non-profits! |
| Draft schedule posted, full program coming soon. | |
| Friday Experiences and Social Information |
Learn more about the Friday field experiences and the social @ The SPARK Museum! Heavy apps, beverages, and an included electricity show.
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| Travel and Lodging Information | Conference hotel link, room blocks, map of events, and carpool information. |
Still have questions? We have answers!
FEATURING |
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mary Brunkow Nobel Prize Winner in Physiology or Medicine 2025
Dr. Mary Brunkow is a distinguished Seattle-based scientist, senior program manager at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), and recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. She was recognized for her foundational research on immune tolerance, specifically identifying the FOXP3 gene and the role of regulatory T cells in preventing autoimmune disease. We are so excited to welcome Dr. Mary Brunkow to our conference! She is renowned for her deep insight into science as collaboration, the need for persistance, and the human story of scientific discovery. | Award Announcements!
The Washington Science Teachers of the Year will be honored during a celebratory lunch at the conference. We hope that you will consider applying or nominating a colleague in 2027. You can learn more at the link below. | Nerdy T-Shirt Contest and Prizes
Let's get nerdy! Wear your best nerdy science t-shirt and you could win a prize pack from everyone's favorite NW nerdy science shop, Cognitive Surplus! |
Friday Field Trips
On Friday afternoon, registrants will have the opportunity to join a free field trip. We are currently planning these, so stay tuned for more information! Learn more here. | Friday Night Social
On Friday night we will have light bites and a free beverage for all attendees and exhibitors! We'll be at the incredible SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention in downtown Bellingham. Come for the electricity, stay for all of the new friends you'll make. Learn more here. | Free Exchange Table!
Back for the 3rd year by popular demand. Bring your new and gently used science teaching supplies, textbooks, popular science books, nerdy gear, and more. It will then be free for folks to peruse. Folks have taken home class sets of textbooks, microscopes, falcon tubes, petri dishes, cool t-shirts, science water bottles, and more! Keep things out of the landfill and help new teachers outfit their classrooms. |
Elementary Share-A-Thon
Join us for an Elementary Share-A-Thon, a fun and practical session where you'll leave with ideas you can use right away in your classroom. We'll kick things off by sharing three ready-to-use resources: a GLAD Crash Course, Humans or Heroes? Scientist Trading Cards, and Phenomenal Writing Prompts. Then it's your turn. Bring a favorite lesson, unit, strategy, or classroom routine to share with colleagues and help build our collective toolbox of great elementary science practices. Together, we'll learn from one another, celebrate what's working, and walk away with fresh ideas and new connections. | Vendors and Prizes
Visit our 30 vendors to learn about the latest in science instructional materials and from nonprofits ready to support your teaching! Many of our vendors will have prizes available for raffle so make sure to get your raffle tickets into a cup. | Lunch and Coffee Included
We'll have hot coffee and tea for you as the conference begins and a delicious and locally-prepared boxed lunch from Leaf and Ladle for you at midday! Folks with special food requests will get an email close to the conference date to confirm food orders. Leftover food from the conference will be donated to a local food bank. |
Thank You to Our Platinum Sponsor! |
We can't wait to see you in Bellingham!
<3 Your WSTA Board
