The 2025 Ohio STEM Innovation Summit was a living tribute to the growth of Ohio’s STEM education community and its commitment to action.

Five hundred educators, business partners, and state leaders filled the Greater Columbus Convention Center Ballroom—the largest gathering yet. Their mission: Find the resources and practices needed to better prepare Ohio’s next-generation workforce for a rapidly changing world.

Director Kelly Gaier Evans called the event to order with Albert Einstein’s confession: “I am neither especially clever nor especially gifted. I am only very, very curious.” Attendees heard from Lt. Governor Jim Tressel about igniting students’ vision for the future. Keynote speakers Tara DeFrancisco and Rance Rizzutto brought joy to the event as they spoke about the connections between improv and learning, and then facilitated improv-based networking.

The event closed with a quote attributed to investor Sven Schnieders: “The worst decision most adults make is to stop asking questions—trading their curiosity for the appearance of competence.”

Highlights from the day

• 35+ STEM education sessions connecting leading Ohio educators to the broader community
• Networking spaces including an exhibitor hall, regional OSLN hub meeting place, and Hall of Inspiration sharing student work
• More than 500 tickets sold, up 25% from last year
• Recognition of Ohio’s 2025 STEM Excellence Award winners (see announcement post) and the 2025 designated and re-designated STEM/STEAM schools

Building on the momentum

• Prepare to return for an even bigger event when the summit returns in June 2026
• Did you attend? Explore the photo album on Facebook and tag your school!
• Need professional development credit? Complete the form here
• Ready to get started with the #STEMmovesOhio design challenge? Learn more and sign up here.