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In this Issue:

• Registration is Open for NABT2026 in Dallas!
• Call for Proposals: 2026 Research Symposium
• Call for Posters: 2026 NABT Biology Education Poster Session
• NABT Two-Year & Four-Year Award Nominations Due May 1st!
• Teaching to Lead Webinar Recap
• National Survey of High School Environmental Science Teachers 

Registration Open for the 2026 NABT Conference

It's never too early to start planning for the Fall and the NABT Professional Development Conference in Dallas. 

The NABT Conference is more than sessions; it's the place where a vibrant and welcoming community of life science educators learn from and celebrate each other!

The conference is beginning on Thursday morning! 
Check out the website for the revised schedule and plan ahead!

Highlights of the 2026 NABT Conference:

• Engaging Workshops and Sessions: The conference features over 100 interactive workshops and sessions led by experienced educators and researchers. These sessions cover innovative teaching strategies, curriculum development, and the latest advancements in biology education.
  
• Join HHMI Tangled Bank Studios as they present one of their new movies! Grab a drink, some heavy appetizers and sit back and relax while we watch the movie and have a Q&A!

• Keynote Speakers: Attendees can look forward to speakers who share valuable insights about life science research, education research, and science communication.

• Networking Opportunities: With more than 800 educators from various educational levels, the NABT conference facilitates meaningful connections, where colleagues become forever friends.

• Exhibit Hall: The conference's exhibit hall showcases the latest educational resources, technologies, and services from our partners.

• Special Events: In addition to the sessions, the conference includes special events such as field trips, film screenings, and receptions.
  
• Help us close out the conference at the NABT Honors Luncheon, where we celebrate this year's award winners! Everyone is invited! Tickets are only $35.

Whether you're an experienced teacher or new to the profession, attending the NABT Conference will rejuvenate your teaching practice and connect you with a supportive community of peers.

Registration is now open, and early-bird discounted pricing is available until July 31, 2026. We are also once again offering group discounts.

For more information and to register online, visit NABT Conference 2026 or contact us at conference@nabt.org for details.

Call for Proposals for the

18th Annual

NABT Biology Education Research Symposium 

We invite you to submit a proposal to present your research in biology education at the 18th Annual Biology Education Research Symposium. Previous presentations have included case study research on teaching evolution, action research in a high school setting, and modeling in elementary students.

This is a refereed session to be presented at the 2026 NABT Professional Development Conference on October 30, 2026 in Dallas.

All papers will go through double-blind review and the format of the symposium will be a traditional presentation of papers by individuals or co-authors lasting 15 minutes each (with five minutes for Q&A). Reviewed proposals will be published as proceedings on the NABT website.

Papers are due Monday, June 29, 2026. Learn more at the 2026 Call for Papers.

Call for Posters:

2026 NABT Biology Education Poster Session

You and your students are invited to share your biology education research or mentored student research at the 2026 NABT Professional Development Conference.

The NABT Biology Education Poster Session will be held on Saturday, October 31st. This popular session highlights practices, programs, and research in three distinct categories: general strategies for teaching biology, the scholarship of teaching, and mentored student research.

Posters presented by students are eligible for two competitions, with winners announced onsite at the NABT Conference in Dallas, TX.

• Student Competition: Biology Education Research - Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. Posters must concentrate on the presentation of new teaching strategies or programs or contribute new knowledge about biology education, and should include data and relevant analysis. Both in-progress and completed research can be presented in this category, and posters should include research and data on the efficacy of the presented technique or trial. Students must be entered as first authors.

• Student Competition: Mentored Student Research - Open to high school students and undergraduate students at 2-year or 4-year institutions. Posters should effectively present a mentored student scientific research activity in any area of biology. 

• General Category (non-competitive) - Open to all participants. Posters can present the incorporation of new teaching strategies, techniques, or programs. Past posters have even highlighted a new lesson plan or laboratory exercise. Posters that include research and data on the efficacy of presented techniques are particularly encouraged.

Submissions are due on Saturday, August 15th. Learn more at the 2026 Call for Posters.

Deadline Approaching!

Nominations for 2026 NABT Two-Year and Four-Year Awards Due May 1st!



You recognize excellence in teaching. So do we!

The NABT Awards program recognizes teachers for their expertise in specific subject areas, for contributions to the profession by new teachers, and service to NABT, life science teaching, or leadership in learning communities.

NABT has three more awards still accepting nominations, but only until May 1st!



NABT's Two-Year Teaching Award

Sponsored by NABT's Two-Year College Section, this award recognizes a two-year college biology educator who employs new and creative techniques in their classroom teaching. Nominees must be current members of NABT, and the award includes a $500 travel honorarium to attend the NABT Professional Development Conference, a recognition plaque, and one year of complimentary membership to NABT.

NABT's Four-Year College & University Section Teaching Award

This award, sponsored by NABT’s Four-Year College & University Section, recognizes creativity and innovation in undergraduate biology teaching. These innovations may include, but are not limited to, curriculum design, teaching strategies, and laboratory utilization; they must have been implemented and demonstrated to be effective. Additionally, award winners will agree to present their work at the NABT Conference. The award is open to NABT members and includes a $500 honorarium, recognition plaque to be presented at the NABT Professional Development Conference, and one-year complimentary membership to NABT.


NABT's Four-Year College & University Section Research in Biology Education Award

This award, sponsored by NABT’s Four-Year College & University Section, recognizes creativity and innovation in research that furthers our understanding of undergraduate biology teaching and education. These innovations may include, but are not limited to, scholarship and research in biology education. Additionally, award winners will agree to present their work during the NABT Research Symposium at the NABT Conference. The award is open to NABT members and includes a $500 honorarium, recognition plaque to be presented at the NABT Professional Development Conference, and one-year complimentary membership to NABT. 

Learn more about the NABT Awards Program here, and nominate yourself or a colleague for one of the awards using the online nomination form. 

NABT Section Award nominations are due by May 1, 2026

Community of Practice – Teaching to Lead Series Recap

We had 30 participants join our April 8 Community of Practice webinar. Attendees were divided into two breakout groups to discuss the following ABT articles:

• “Combatting Misinformation through Science Communication Training”
   Jennifer L. Osterhage & Katherine Rogers-Carpenter
  
• “Evaluating the Impact of Communicating Science with Scientific Rigor”
   Natalia González-Benítez, Javier Palomino, & Sonia Valle de Frutos

You can view the PowerPoint presentation here.


Below are some of the key themes that emerged from our discussions. We hope you’ll join us in September for our next Community of Practice webinar!

Help Shape the Future of Environmental Science Education: National Survey for High School Teachers

NAAEE, BSCS Science Learning, and The FieldScope Project are conducting a national survey to better understand the current state of high school environmental science education. Including what teachers teach, how instructional decisions are made, and what resources and support are most needed.

We invite high school environmental science teachers to participate. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes and is open to any high school teacher based in the United States who teaches environmental science as a dedicated course or as part of a broader science class.

Your responses will directly inform the development and dissemination of resources for environmental science educators nationwide. All responses are anonymous and will be reported in aggregate.

Published findings will be shared with the broader science education community to help improve resources and support for environmental science educators. NAAEE and BSCS Science Learning will publish these findings on their websites, as well as share the report through email once the study is completed.

NABT

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Heber City, UT 84032 

Phone: (888) 501-NABT 

E-mail: office@nabt.org

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