2009 NATS FALL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
October 8- 10, 2009
Thursday afternoon the NATS Fall Conference was honored to have Governor Dave Heineman stop by for a short presentation following a visit to some of the workshops. He spoke to the group about 3:00 p.m. touching on challenges to education in the state and the state standards. Govenrnor Heineman also answered several questions posed by the group.
The 2009 NATS Fall Conference featured several presentations celebrating the 150th anniversary of the publication of Origin of Species. One highlight was a presentation by , portraying Charles Darwin.
Dr. Ed Louis, Project Coordinator of the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo Madagascar Biodiversity and Biogeography Project gave the Friday evening Maiben Lecture highlighting their work in Madagasdar with impressive pictures and statstistics on new lemur species they have identified as well as the effects current political and cultural activities are having on the ecosystems there.
We were also honored to have Pat Shane, President of the National Science Teachers Association attend our conference. Dr. Patricia M. Shane, associate director of the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) and clinical professor of science education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, began her one-year term as president of the NSTA on June 1, 2009.
Dr. Roger Breed, Nebraska Commissioner of Education spoke to Fall Conference attendees on Friday afternoon. Throughout his thirty-eight year career in Nebraska public schools, Dr. Roger Breed has provided state-wide leadership as an active participant on numerous committees and boards responsible for examining issues and developing recommendations regarding state standards, assessment programs, personnel selection and certification, and other significant school policy issues.
Several awards were presented at the NATS Fall Conference. Neal Brenner, Nebraska Scientific and Jim Rynearson, Lincoln High School received 2009 Catalyst Awards, the highest honor NATS bestows on a member.
Neal Brenner, Nebraska Scientific presented 20 year member pins to Joan Anthony, Bev Grueber, and Aurietha Hoesing. Neal has had a presence at NATS Fall Conferences for many years and starting honoring 20 year members about four years ago.
Ross Dinwiddie received an award from Gary Brown of Gary Brown Microscopes.
An Annual Conference is held by the NATS organization during September or October. The conference consists of a series of workshops, field trips, multi-media presentations, computer simulations, and numerous motivational activities, with concurrent sessions specifically designed for teachers of physical (physics and chemistry), earth, biological, and elementary sciences.
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