In this Issue:

• NABT2025 Call for Proposals Now Open
• Join us for a Darwin Day March Mammal Madness MASHUP!!
• Sponsor Spotlight: Bio-Rad Thanks You for An Amazing NABT2024!
• Reminder: Hilleman Essays Being Accepted Until February 6, 2025
• Presidential Awards Recognize Math and Science Teachers & STEM Mentors
• SABER Offers Free Biology Education Research Seminar Series

NABT2025 Call for Proposals Now Open

The National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT) invites biology and life science educators and education researchers from all levels and all settings to submit education session proposals for the 2025 NABT Professional Development Conference in St. Louis.

This year's conference will be held from October 30 to November 2, 2025, at the beautiful St. Louis Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, and promises to be this year's can't-miss-event for biology and life science teachers.

The NABT Conference is your opportunity to share innovative teaching strategies, informative research, and best practices with a community of passionate educators. Sessions should be engaging, evidence-based, and relevant to biology and life science teaching.

Full submission guidelines are available to help you prepare materials before submitting your session online at 2025 NABT Conference Proposals. 

Other Considerations:

• NABT will accept sessions until 11:59 PM Pacific on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. 
• You may submit an unlimited number of proposals. However, acceptance will be limited to two education sessions per presenter. You may also present posters, research papers, exhibitor sessions, and symposiums in addition to the two sessions.
• The NABT Professional Development Committee will review session proposals, and acceptance notifications will be sent to presenters by May 30, 2025.
• Upon acceptance, all session presenters must register and pay the appropriate fees to attend the NABT Professional Development Conference in St. Louis.
• Please make sure all co-presenters are aware of this requirement before submission.

We look forward to receiving your proposals and welcoming you to the 2025 NABT Conference in St. Louis!

Join us for a Darwin Day March Mammal Madness MASHUP!!

Join NABT and NCSE on  as we proudly host Dr. Katie Hinde, award-winning scholar and founder of March Mammal Madness, to discuss how human minds are adapted for stories, especially about nature.

She’ll also share some sneak peeks into the 2025 MMM tournament!

This free webinar will be on Wednesday, February 12th at 7:00 PM ET (6:00 PM CT, 5:00 PM MT, and 4:00 PM PT), and will be a special encore of the 2024 Evolution Symposium presented at the NABT Conference in Anaheim, “Mystery Mammal Madness: Curious Cases of Convergence,” will also highlight ways to help students overcome common misconceptions about evolution through a convergent evolution storyline.

The webinar will be presented by:

• Katie Hinde, founder of March Mammal Madness and Associate Professor of Evolutionary Biology at ASU.
• Black Touchet, Director of Teacher Support, NCSE
• Amanda Townley, NCSE Executive Director & 2024 NABT President

Teachers and students are welcome to attend, and you can register at 2025 NABT & NCSE Darwin Day or by using the QR code.

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Thank You for An Amazing NABT2024!

It was great meeting you! Thank you for the overwhelming response and attendance at our workshops on hands-on learning and cutting-edge topics and technology.

Missed this year's conference or workshops? No worries! Keep your professional development going by signing up for our free webinars at Bio-Rad.com/ExplorerEvents.

The Bio-Rad Explorer program is proud to sponsor NABT and The Ron Mardigian Biotechnology Teaching Award.

Reminder: Hilleman Essays Being Accepted Until February 6, 2025

Dr. Maurice R. Hilleman was a virologist who developed more than half of the vaccines that young children receive today. His work, credited with saving 8 million lives every year, was cutting edge. Each year, the Maurice R. Hilleman Essay Contest inspires students to think about how scientific advancements shape daily life.

WHO CAN SUBMIT AN ESSAY?

Students in grades 6 to 12* living in the United States (including the District of Columbia and  U.S. Territories) or Canada (*Grades 6 to 11 in Quebec) and enrolled in a public, private, online, religious, or charter school or who attend a home school program can participate.

First and second place will be awarded in the high school and middle school categories in each country. 

WHAT IS REQUIRED?

Learn about Dr. Hilleman, and write a 500- to 1,000-word essay that responds to this prompt below:

Not everyone will be a prolific scientist like Dr. Hilleman, but all citizens need to understand how science works. Use an example to discuss why this understanding is important, given the role of science and technology in society today.

Essay should be written in English for U.S. submissions and English or French for Canadian submissions using complete sentences and appropriate grammar. See “Official Rules” at https://hillemanfilm.com/contest. 

HOW DO YOU ENTER?

Review the official rules and get an entry form at HILLEMANFILM.COM. Completed entries must be submitted online by 11:59 PM, Eastern Time, February 6, 2025, or postmarked by February 6 if mailed. Submissions that are incomplete, do not address the prompt, do not follow the contest rules, or are not received by this time will not be considered.

WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?

Student winners receive a cash prize of $500 USD for 1st Place, $250 USD for 2nd place, a winner certificate, and recognition at a virtual award event in May, 2025 hosted by Dr. Paul Offit - VEC director, vaccine inventor, and Hilleman biographer. The event will also include special guests and student winners reading their essays. 

The teachers named in each winning student's entry will receive a signed copy of a book written by Dr. Offit, and a 1-year, free membership to the National Association of Biology Teachers (NABT).

More information is available at Hilleman Contest.

Presidential Awards Recognize Math and Science Teachers & STEM Mentors

On January 13, 2025, the White House announced 336 teachers and mentors from around the nation were named recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) and the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM).

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th grade science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Up to 110 teachers are recognized each year.

Presidential Awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States, professional development opportunities, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

These awards honor the vital role that America’s teachers and mentors play in shaping the next generation of technical leaders, including scientists, engineers, explorers, and innovators.

Awardees have been named for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 full listings are available at the links below.

• 2021 Awardees for 7-12
• 2022 Awardees for K-6
• 2023 Awardees for 7-12

Winners of the PAEMST join an impressive network of over 5,000 fellow teachers, and we congratulate them on this impressive achievement!

The White House also named 30 recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM). This award honors the hard work and dedication of mentors, both individuals and organizations, who demonstrate excellence in mentoring individuals from groups that are underrepresented in STEM education and the workforce.

A full listing of this year's winners is available at 2024 PAESMEM. Recipients of the PAESMEM also receive a certificate from the President and $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.

Please join us in congratulating these educators and mentors for their contributions to STEM education!

SABER Offers Free Biology Education Research Seminar Series

You are invited to participate in the 2025 SABER Biology Education Research Webinar Series. This six-part series highlights a variety of topics, each focused on making undergraduate science education research more inclusive.

The series is free and open to SABER members and non-members. Non-members who register and attend four webinars and the accompanying learning communities will receive one year of free SABER membership. 

The webinars are held on Thursdays at 12:00 PM ET (11:00 AM CT, 10:00 AM MT, 9:00 AM PT). The next webinar will be on Thursday, February 20th, and more details are available at 2025 SABER Webinars. Recordings of the webinars are also available after the event.