by Kelly Gaier Evans, Director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network

The 2025 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit introduces two dynamic new session formats:

• Solver Sessions for collaborative problem-solving and
• Networking Sessions for building professional connections.

These innovative formats are designed to maximize engagement and provide personalized value for all attendees.

Register today to secure your spot at this consistently sold-out event happening June 3, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center!

Elevating Collaboration at the Ohio STEM Innovation Summit

After consecutive sold-out events in 2023 and 2024, we asked ourselves: How can we create even more meaningful connections and practical takeaways for our attendees? The answer came in reimagining how educators interact during the Summit.

• First, we’re kicking the day off with an incredible keynote to get us thinking differently about how we create and engage in a dynamic learning environment. Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto, world-renowned improvisational performers, will share key insights from the stage that can impact our schools. Learn more here.
• Second, we wanted to create a space where our community of practice can do more than just learn but also inspire and build off ideas. In addition to an all-star lineup of sessions, we’re also providing sessions that are more fluid, based on the needs and creativity of the individuals coming together in the room. Learn more about these new session formats.

Why These New Session Formats Matter

STEM education thrives on collaboration, creativity, and community—exactly what these new session formats are designed to foster. In today’s educational landscape, the challenges facing STEM educators require active problem-solving and genuine connection. Our new formats add:

• Personalized feedback on your actual projects and challenges
• Direct access to experienced practitioners in your specific area
• Targeted networking with peers who share your unique professional context

For complete details, visit our Special Sessions page.

Solver Sessions: Where Your Challenges Meet Solutions

Imagine bringing your toughest classroom challenges or half-formed project ideas and walking away with concrete solutions from the state’s top STEM practitioners. That’s exactly what our Solver Sessions offer.

Whether you’re refining a Project-Based Learning project, seeking partnerships, integrating curriculum units, or reimagining STEM education entirely, these sessions provide a structured environment for meaningful feedback. Choose from specialized tracks including grade-specific Project-Based Learning discussions, partnership development, integrated unit planning, and innovative STEM school concepts.

Why attend: Bring your real work and leave with actionable improvements, new perspectives, and potential collaborators. This isn’t theoretical—it’s practical advancement of your actual projects.

Networking Sessions: Find Your Professional Tribe

We’ve all experienced the unexpected value of hallway conversations at conferences. Our formalized Networking Sessions bring this benefit front and center, creating intentional spaces for organic connection among peers with shared contexts.

Whether you’re new to STEM, working in an independent or private school setting, serving as an instructional coach, or a veteran educator, you’ll find a dedicated space to connect with colleagues who understand your specific challenges and opportunities. Added bonus: reconnect with friends from previous cohort experiences!

Why attend: Build relationships that extend beyond the conference, discover potential collaborators, and gain insights from those who truly understand your professional context.

Your Summit Experience: Designed for Maximum Impact

The most successful professional development balances structure with personalization. By incorporating these diverse session formats into your summit experience, you’ll create a day that addresses your specific needs while expanding your horizons in unexpected ways.

We recommend adding at least one of each of these new sessions to your summit plan to ensure a well-rounded experience:

• A Solver Session to advance a project or challenge you’re currently facing
• A Networking Session aligned with your professional context

Join Us on June 3, 2025

The Ohio STEM Innovation Summit has quickly become the premier gathering for Ohio’s STEM education community.

Register today to secure your place at this transformative event, where you’ll help shape the future of STEM education in Ohio. Together, we can build the foundation for our state’s future workforce through innovative, collaborative approaches to STEM learning.

The Ohio STEM Innovation Summit will be held on June 3, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio.