October 30, 2024

In this Issue:



• 2024 NABT Election Results
• NABT Responds to Attempts to Ban "Controversial" Topics
• Meet the Speakers for NABT2024
• SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Modeling in Anaheim with 3DMD
• Annenberg Public Policy Center Request for Help: Share Your Experiences Teaching Biology
• HHMI Night at the Movies at NABT2024 WILD HOPE: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

2024 NABT Election Results

After tabulating and certifying the votes from our members, the National Association of Biology Teachers is pleased to announce the following election results.

• President-Elect: Lindsey Fields, Butler Community College, El Dorado, KS
• Director-at-Large: Kristy Daniel, PhD, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX
• Region II: Jennifer Jones, The Episcopal Academy, Newtown Square, PA
• Region VI: Abigail Warden, Pearl River Community College, Hattiesburg, MS
• Region VIII: Katrina Marcos, Western Wyoming Community College, Rock Springs, WY
• Region X: Martha Schissler, York Region District School Board, Stouffville, Ontario, Canada

We would like to thank all of the candidates who ran for NABT Offices in 2024, including Dr. Vedham Karapakakunjaram, Dr. Sheela Vemu, Alice Scheele, Dr. Blake Touchet, and Kim Popham. Our community is fortunate to have so many volunteers who are ready and able to serve on behalf of their fellow biology and life science educators.

NABT Responds to Attempts to Ban "Controversial" Topics

NABT is receiving increasingly frequent reports about efforts to ban “controversial” science concepts from textbooks and curricula. Those topics deemed "controversial" by local school boards and state officials include climate change, evolution, reproduction, and vaccines.

The NABT Board of Directors has recently released a statement publicly affirming our commitment to advocating for "science education that is taught in a standards-based instructional framework, upholds scientific integrity, and ensures teachers the right to teach accurate and current science without penalty, or political or religious influences on content."

You can download the full statement at NABT Letter to the Community: Banning Topics, and you are welcome to use this statement to promote and protect science integrity in the classroom.

Please email NABT at leadership@nabt.org if you have questions or comments or want to share updates about what is happening in your local community.

Dr. Janet Carlson will kick off the conference as the General Session Speaker on Thursday, November 14th, with an interactive discussion on bridging education research and practice. You’ll consider key ideas about how people learn, the knowledge and skills of highly effective teachers, and how to deepen your classroom practice to enhance student learning. 

This session will have you reflecting on your own teaching while considering strategies on how to use research findings to improve effectiveness with students of any age.

On Friday, November 15th, our General Session Speaker, wildlife biologist, and outdoor enthusiast Alex Troutman (N8TURE AL) will share how his experiences have inspired him to use nature as a "doorway" to get all learners interested in STEAM.

The co-founder of several Black in X weeks, including Black Birders Week and Black Mammologists Week, Alex will share how representation and intentionality can spark curiosity and inspiration in all of us.

Later on Friday, November 15th, Dr. Katie Hinde will present during the NCSE Evolution Symposium. "Mammal Madness" will feature a talk on how the incredibly popular March Mammal Madness tournament uses storytelling, scientific facts and findings, dramatic reveals, and plot twists (all mixed with a healthy dose of good-natured competition) to effectively teach about evolution and ecosystems.

Katie's session will be followed by a presentation from NCSE science educators, who will share classroom strategies that challenge students’ preconceived notions about evolutionary fitness.

But wait, there's more! Scientist, inventor, social entrepreneur, and visionary Dr. Pat Brown will be joining us for HHMI Night at the Movies on Friday (learn more in the announcement below). Pat is not only the founder of Impossible Foods, he is also a co-founder of the Public Library of Science (PLOS).

We're looking forward to the movie and Q&A with the audience moderated by our own President-elect, Dr. Kirstin Milks.

The morning of Saturday, November 16th will feature our Invited Speaker, Dr. Briana Pobiner. Briana is this year's recipient of the NABT Evolution Education Award, and she will be sharing successful approaches that support positive dialogue and engagement around human evolution, even in areas where there is resistance to teaching and learning about this topic.

We'll then close the conference on Saturday with a special presentation by multi-hyphenate Natalia Reagan. Natalia is an anthropologist, primatologist, comedian, host, producer, podcaster, professor, writer, frequent animal expert, and monkey-chasing weirdo! You may know her from Neil deGrasse Tyson’s StarTalk, as a science correspondent on Thrillist’s Daily Hit, a science expert on History’s Unbelievable, UnXplained & UnXplained Now (to only name a few of the shows she's been featured on).

Natalia knows humor makes a lasting impact- and she has the receipts to prove it! She'll share her scicomm journey, from methodology to soul-crushing failures to happy successes, so that you leave the NABT Conference inspired to be the best science communicator inside and outside your classroom!

Don't worry. There is still time to register for the NABT Conference online, or you can use the 2024 Registration Form. You can also register onsite in Anaheim.

We look forward to learning and laughing with you in a few weeks!

Modeling in Anaheim with 3DMD

Get hands-on with 3D Molecular Designs at Booth 217 and 316 to discover how to enhance your lessons with classroom modeling! Check out our session schedule to get hands-on with our dynamic kits and models and learn from experienced educators. We’re excited to share tips and tricks with you on how modeling in the classroom improves student learning. Plus, we gift a free kit to one participant at each session, so join us for an interactive modeling experience!

Annenberg Public Policy Center Request for Help: Share Your Experiences Teaching Biology

The Annenberg Public Policy Center is inviting members of the NABT community to provide data to inform future projects. More information is below:

Teacher Survey:

You are invited to participate in a 12-minute survey. We are interested in hearing about your experience teaching students about biology. In appreciation of your time, you will receive a $25 Amazon gift card in compensation.

This project is being conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. The information that we gather will help us create educational materials. 

Click here to see if you’re a good fit for our survey. Or copy and paste this URL:  https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4NO5XQOsQRtkazQ

Focus Group at the NABT Professional Development Conference:

We would like to talk with teachers in-depth at the NABT Conference about the utility and ways to improve learning materials related to the immune system, DNA, and vaccination. As a result, we will be hosting three 60-minute focus groups on Friday, November 15^th and Saturday, November 16th. During the focus group sessions, we will provide refreshments. To thank focus group participants we will provide each with a $60 gift card.

Click here if you would like to be considered for one of these focus groups. Or copy and paste this URL: https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2cclBHp1WU6PWIe

HHMI Night at the Movies at NABT2024

WILD HOPE: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

Join HHMI Tangled Bank Studios at the NABT Professional Development Conference in Anaheim for a special 1st look of their upcoming film. WILD HOPE: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE tells the inspiring story of how a late-career epiphany led Stanford University biochemist Pat Brown to abandon his academic career and commit himself to fighting global warming and biodiversity collapse, starting with a surprising product - an impossibly delicious plant-based hamburger.

Through groundbreaking science and unwavering commitment, Pat's mission transformed the culinary landscape—and provided real hope for a more sustainable and ethical food system. 

Following the screening, hear from Pat himself during an audience Q&A and get the inside scoop on what he sees as the next big solution in the fight against climate-change. Learn more about the Wild Hope movement at Wildhope.tv.

Please note: Popcorn, drinks, and snacks will be provided to enhance your movie experience. The movie and panel will end by 7:00 PM PT so you can have dinner with your friends. 

HHMI Night at the Movies is sponsored by

Notices that appear in News & Views are announcements only and do not indicate an endorsement by NABT. Permission is granted by the National Association of Biology Teachers for libraries and other users to make reproductions for their own or their client's personal, noncommercial, or internal use. 

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