Iowa STEM Summit 2026: Full Schedule

TBA

Building STEM Programs That Last: Lessons Learned from Creating Pathways, Inspiring Students, and Adapting Along the Way

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

My journey into STEM education began long before I became a Senior Principal Systems Engineer. Growing up, navigating college, and during my early years as an engineer, I often found myself trying to figure things out on my own. Access to mentors was limited, career pathways were not always clear, and many opportunities seemed hidden behind barriers that I didn't know how to overcome.

As I established myself professionally, I began reflecting on the challenges that shaped my journey. I realized many students face the same uncertainties today—wondering where to start, what opportunities exist, and whether they belong in STEM fields at all. That realization became the driving force behind my work in STEM education.

My goal has never been to eliminate challenges for students. Challenges are an essential part of learning and growth. My goal has been to ensure students do not have to face those challenges without awareness, opportunity, and support. Through the creation of STEM programs, I have worked to provide students with experiences, mentorship, and exposure to STEM careers that I wish had been available to me when I was younger.

This session will share lessons learned while designing, implementing, growing, and adapting STEM programs over time. Participants will gain practical insights into what it takes to build sustainable programs that remain relevant as technology, student interests, and community needs evolve.

One of the most valuable lessons from this journey has been realizing that student engagement is not static. Early in my STEM outreach efforts, I believed the technologies and projects that excited me would naturally excite students. What I learned instead was that meaningful engagement comes from listening to students, understanding their interests, providing opportunities for ownership and creativity, connecting STEM to real-world challenges, and continuously adapting programs based on feedback and changing needs. Those assumptions continue to evolve today, and that ongoing learning process has fundamentally shaped the programs I build.

Attendees will hear candid stories of successes, failures, unexpected outcomes, and program pivots that ultimately led to stronger student experiences and greater impact.

More importantly, they will leave with practical strategies and lessons that can be applied immediately within their own STEM initiatives.

Presenters

Mandy Dodd

Senior Principal Systems Engineer, Collins Aerospace

Mandy Dodd is a Senior Principal Systems Engineer and project engineering leader at Collins Aerospace, specializing in avionics systems, AFDX technologies, and certification across multiple global regulatory agencies. She brings more than 17 years of engineering and technical program... Read More →

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

20-Minute

Subject Career Connected Learning
Audience Administrators, Elementary Educators, Business/Community, Post Secondary Educators, Secondary Educators

TBA

Enabling STEM learning through AI and 3D printing

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

Many science ideas are hard for students to picture because they are too small to see. In this interactive session hosted by Prof. Ratul Chowdhury - as a part of his STEM Council's Seal of Approval awarded program AI4IA - he will demonstrate how AI, molecular simulations, and 3D-printed models can help students understand proteins. Proteins are tiny molecular blocks of living beings that help our bodies and cells do important jobs. Digestion aiding proteins are examples of proteins which hold on to metal such as zinc, iron, or magnesium. Participants will see how scientists use AI tools to predict a three-dimensional picture of a protein. Together, we will look at how the protein’s shape helps it hold the metal and do its job.

Prof. Chowdhury will bring 3D-printed protein models that participants can see and handle, along with short simulation videos that show proteins in action. These demonstration materials help turn an invisible process into something students can watch, touch, and discuss.

This session is designed for educators who want an easy and engaging way to connect life science, chemistry, technology, and engineering. No advanced computer skills or special science background are needed. Participants will leave with simple ideas for helping middle school students ask questions, explore models, and better understand how shape and structure affect how living things work.

Presenters

Ratul Chowdhury

Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University

I am an assistant professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Iowa State. My research group focuses on building machine learning strategies to accurately understand how metals interact with biological molecules. The lab is actively working on >20 metals through various cross-disciplinary... Read More →

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

20-Minute

Subject Career Connected Learning
Audience Administrators, Elementary Educators, Secondary Educators, Post Secondary Educators, Business/Community, Students
STEM Council Program STEM Council Seal of Approval

TBA

Experiential Learning via Student Driven Projects

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

When a student has advanced beyond their peers, to the point that their educators cannot challenge them enough to continue their learning through traditional curricula, it is time to look at how industry / education partnerships can continue to nourish the interest and passion for learning.

Steve Davis and Dalila Hernandez connected after her teacher met Mr. Davis and requested that he provide an additional learning challenge for Ms. Hernandez so that she could continue her education beyond what was available and practical with the current constraints in her district. After that, they embarked on a multi-year, multi-project journey to enhance Ms. Hernandez's learning experience with feedback and guidance from an industry professional. She is currently pursuing a Graphic Design and Computer Science degree from Drake University and continues her extra-curricular learning with Mr. Davis on a consistent basis to supplement her coursework.

Presenters

Steven Davis

CEO & Co-founder, Bio::Neos, Inc.

Steve is a successful co-founder of a technology business, Bio::Neos a firm of scientific technology architects, that he has operated with his partners for over 20 years. After founding Bio::Neos, Steve has invested significant time working with the local and state-wide business and... Read More →

Dalila Hernandez

Student, Drake University

Dalila has worked with Steve to enhance her education using experiential learning since 2023.

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

20-Minute

Subject Career Connected Learning, Technology/Computer Science/AI
Audience Business/Community, Students, Secondary Educators, Post Secondary Educators, Administrators

TBA

Youth Voices, Youth Choices: STEM Discovery Day with the Iowa STEM Youth Ambassadors

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

The STEM Discovery Day, created by the Iowa STEM Youth Ambassadors, is about giving high school students a better understanding of the vast STEM Field Career possibilities in Iowa. The experience provided the opportunity to learn the day-to-day tasks, schedules, and career ladder of a specific STEM industry. Students were able to network with professionals and make meaningful connections, which can help them plan for their futures. The goal for this experience was for students to walk away with a better sense of direction for what they want to pursue in their future. The Iowa STEM Youth Ambassadors planned the Discovery Day from inception to execution. From brainstorming ideas, to figuring out logistics, Youth Ambassadors took the charge in making sure the Discovery Day pilot was a valuable experience for all, enabling students to see what their STEM journeys could look like beyond the classroom. We hope to expand Discovery Day to more students throughout Iowa. At our presentation, attendees will gain insight into the process the youth ambassadors went through and how they could plan one of these days as well. They will walk away with the tools used by the Youth Ambassadors to make the day successful and educational. Educators, businesses, students, and community partners will be given resources to help them expand STEM career explorations throughout their communities.

Presenters

Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group

The Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Business Partnerships committee members, Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group

The Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group is comprised of Iowa youth from middle school to college age who have a passion or interest in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

20-Minute

Subject Career Connected Learning
Audience Administrators, Business/Community, Elementary Educators, Post Secondary Educators, Secondary Educators, Students
STEM Council Program Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group

TBA

Beyond the Barn: How Iowa 4-H is Building Iowa's STEM Talent Pipeline

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

What if you could grow your future workforce instead of competing to recruit it? Step into the role of a talent recruiter facing rising hiring, onboarding, and retention costs, then experience how Iowa 4-H STEM develops career-ready youth through robotics and automation. Working in teams, you'll tackle real-world engineering challenges, explore NACE career-ready skills, and discover how long-term investment in youth talent can deliver measurable returns for industry, education, and communities.

Presenters

Jonnie Becker

Iowa 4-H STEM Focus Team Leader, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: 4-H

Jonnie brings over 20 years of experience in STEM education, curriculum design, and statewide program leadership and currently the Iowa 4-H STEM Focus team leader. In this role, she leads the development of a statewide STEM vision aligned with Iowa State University Extension and national... Read More →

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

50-Minute

Subject Career Connected Learning
Audience Secondary Educators, Business/Community, Students, Administrators, Post Secondary Educators

TBA

Cultivating STEM Connections: Lessons Learned as a First-Year Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Host

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

What happens when a university public garden becomes an Iowa STEM Teacher Externship host for the first time?

In this interactive session, educators from Reiman Gardens at Iowa State University will share their journey as a first-year Iowa STEM Teacher Externship host site. Participants will learn how our organization partnered with two licensed STEM educators to create meaningful workplace experiences that connected environmental science, horticulture, entomology, science communication, informal education, arts, and community engagement to classroom learning. Reiman Gardens offers STEAM-rich experiences through camps, public programs, exhibits, and environmental education, making it a unique host environment for teacher externs.

Presenters will discuss planning, onboarding, project selection, mentoring strategies, challenges encountered, unexpected successes, and impacts observed for both the externs and host organization. Attendees will leave with practical tools and recommendations for developing successful partnerships between schools and informal learning organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and community institutions.

Whether you are considering serving as a future extern host, supporting educator professional learning, or participating in an externship yourself, this session will provide actionable insights and real-world examples that can be adapted to a variety of STEM settings.

Presenters

Ann Gritzner

Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program Coordinator, Iowa STEM

Sara Merritt

Director of Education, Reiman Gardens - Iowa State University

Sara Merritt is an educator, trainer, and creative strategist specializing in experiential learning, arts integration, and science engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with Individual Concentration in Art, Sexuality, and Aesthetic Perception, A Master of Fine Arts in Painting... Read More →

Molly Barten

Manager of Youth & Family Programs, Reiman Gardens - Iowa State University

Molly Barten is an educator and program leader specializing in youth engagement, family learning, and nature-based education. As Manager of Youth & Family Programs at Reiman Gardens, she develops and leads innovative experiences that connect children and families with the natural... Read More →

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

50-Minute

Subject Career Connected Learning
Audience Administrators, Elementary Educators, Students, Secondary Educators, Post Secondary Educators, Business/Community
STEM Council Program Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program

TBA

Poster Walk: STEM-Powered Youth of Iowa

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

New to the Iowa STEM Summit this year, a student poster walk will showcase the innovative research, projects and ideas of Iowa high school students. Students enrolled in an Iowa public or accredited non-public high school are invited to create a poster or tri-fold display that shares a STEM research topic or STEM-based project.
The student poster walk is designed to give students an opportunity to share ideas, hone presentation skills, learn from fellow students, get feedback from educators and industry professionals and engage with the broader Iowa STEM community.

Proposals are open through Oct. 1: https://cfp.sched.com/speaker/Y8jJK05YyU

Presenters

Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group

The Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Business Partnerships committee members, Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group

The Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador Group is comprised of Iowa youth from middle school to college age who have a passion or interest in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.

Friday November 6, 2026 TBA

Drop-In