Both registration and breakfast will take place at:

FSCJ Advanced Technology Center
401 W. State Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Building T, Room T-141

The Welcome and Orientation portion will take place at:

FSCJ Advanced Technology Center
401 W. State Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Building T, Room T-141

Can You Feel it in Your Spleen? Active-Learning Strategies That Make Your Science Class Engaging and Meaningful

Florin Apostol, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: 9-12; undergraduate science

The concept of "Can you feel it in your spleen?" encourages students to connect with the material on a deeper level, ensuring they truly grasp and internalize physics, and by extension, any science concepts. This presentation will explore a variety of active learning strategies that integrate students’ personal experiences and interests. Incorporating relatable examples and real-world applications is key in creating a more engaging and meaningful learning environment. This approach not only enhances student motivation but also cultivates a deeper appreciation for the subject.

PD 2356
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Room T-241
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From Idea to Cure: How Clinical Research Saves Lives

Meaghan Rodgers, Mayo Clinic Florida

Target Audience: 9-12

This interactive 50-minute workshop introduces students to the essential role of clinical research in developing safe and effective medical treatments. Participants will explore the phases of clinical trials, learn how drugs are tested, and consider the ethical issues involved. Through engaging activities students will gain a foundational understanding of how science turns ideas into life-saving cures. The session concludes with group sharing and information on careers in clinical research.

PD 2362
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Room T-234
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Mosquito Control Card Game

Terence Cavanaugh, Dr. Benjamin Allen, University of North Florida

Target Audience: K-8

This card set uses gamification design to educate middle (and more) students about the issues and dangers of mosquitoes, what mosquito control does, and the impact that people and the environment have on mosquito populations. The cards allow you to model situations as you play the game, with cards having different values, either for helping the mosquito population or assisting in controlling that population.

PD 2358
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Room T-231
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STEAM for All: Engaging Educators Across Levels with Hands-On Creativity

Christi Dixon, Chelsea Ross, Charles Caldwell, and Alisa Barber, Duval County Public Schools

Target Audience: K-8

This dynamic 45-minute workshop invites educators from elementary school and up to explore accessible, hands-on STEAM activities that ignite creativity and innovation in any classroom. Participants will engage in interactive projects such as designing LED name badges and experimenting with 3D printing pens. Each activity highlights practical ways to integrate science, technology, engineering, art, and math while fostering student curiosity and cross-disciplinary thinking. Designed to be adaptable for all grade levels and subject areas, this session equips teachers with ready-to-use tools and ideas that can inspire students and enhance learning immediately, making STEAM approachable and fun for every educator.

PD 2371
9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Room T-241a
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Empowering RN-BSN Students to Evaluate the Use of Artificial Intelligence in HIV Care: A Diplomacy Lab Initiative Anchored in the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief

Deborah Brabham, Dr. Peggy McCartt, Dr. Melisia Robinson, and Dr. Renata Henderson, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: undergraduate science

This presentation explores how a Diplomacy Lab initiative introduced RN-BSN students to global applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in HIV care. Through literature reviews and thematic analysis, students examined AI’s role in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and ethical practice. Faculty evaluated student work using standardized rubrics and statistical methods across three class cohorts. While thematic emphasis varied slightly, all students demonstrated strong engagement with AI innovations such as predictive tools and chatbots. This work underscores the potential of AI to reduce disparities and improve outcomes, while highlighting nursing’s role in advancing ethical, technology-driven, global health solutions.

PD 2372
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Room T-231
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Engaging Everyday Science Concepts through Inquiry-Based Instruction

Secondary Science Team, Duval County Public Schools

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

This workshop will explore how the 5E instructional model can transform science classrooms by connecting everyday phenomena to inquiry-based learning. Participants will explore practical strategies and real-world examples that illustrate how the 5Es encourage deeper understanding and student engagement. Included is an interactive demonstration to support implementation.

PD 2367
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Room T-241a
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Icebreakers That Thaw: Building Connection in STEM Classrooms

Caroline Sampson, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

The first day sets the tone for the entire term, especially in STEM, where anxiety and isolation can run high. Most icebreakers are lukewarm at best, but when designed with purpose, the right opener can spark engagement, foster inclusion, and build momentum. Grounded in neuroscience, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and culturally responsive andragogy, this fast-paced session offers practical, adaptable strategies that create authentic connection without wasting time or student dignity. Attendees will leave with a ready-to-use toolkit of meaningful icebreakers that make Day 1 count.

PD 2360
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Room T-241
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Science as Art

Nicholas Michaud, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: 9-12; undergraduate science

It is common to hear desperate artists and art educators explain the worth of their work in the context of STEM. “Music helps you improve your math skills.” “Drawing is essential for engineering.” And other such exclamations are uttered as we continue to cut art programs and education. We assume this means that we have great respect for science and STEM as we continue to tout their value for society… But, if science is simply a means to an economic end, do we really value it? And is our inability to value art undermining the value of science? Learning science and becoming a scientist should be more than just finding a high-powered or high-paying job in STEM... it should also be a chance to unravel the mysteries of the universe, understand our place in the world... and consider what it all means. As such, perhaps it is not that we should justify the arts through STEM, but we should add STEM to the arts… and remind ourselves that science isn’t just a chance to do work... but an opportunity for joy, exploration, and the production of beauty.

PD 2374
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Room T-234
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Biotech Made Simple: Hands-On Simulations for Every Classroom

Kasyappa Chitta, Dr. Pius Kyesmu, Florida State College at Jacksonville 

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

This hands-on workshop introduces Biotech enthusiasts to creative, no-wet-lab biotechnology simulations designed for any classroom. Participants will explore key concepts, including CRISPR gene editing, PCR, DNA profiling, genetic inheritance, plasmid cloning, and bioethics, using accessible, low-cost materials such as paper models, cards, tokens, and digital tools. Each activity emphasizes core biotech principles while offering flexibility, engagement, and ease of implementation. Teachers will leave with ready-to-use lesson plans, classroom-tested resources, and renewed confidence to inspire the next generation of biotech learners—no lab equipment required.

PD 2373
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Room T-241
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Engaging Students in Science Vocabulary

Shalimar Lane, Brianna Hubbard and Kimberly Rowe, Duval County Public Schools

Target Audience: K-8

This workshop will address strategies and best practices for engaging students with science vocabulary. We will demonstrate the use of these approaches and offer examples of vocabulary resources suitable for classroom use.

PD 2366
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Room T-231
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Exploring Sustainable Agriculture: A Guided Tour of FSCJ's Aquaponics Lab

Lance “Doc” Culver, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

10-minute tour with a 5-minute Q & A, three tours per session.

11:00 a.m., 11:20 a.m., & 11:40 a.m.
Tour- meets at the Pearl St. entrance
No registration required

Interactive Review Stations

Susan Dixon, Duval County Public Schools

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

Participants will engage with three review stations on the same science topic, with each station scaffolded to be appropriate to one of three levels: middle school, high school, and college. Participants will discuss how review stations can be incorporated at each level of instruction. The presenter will share tips from her experience that will empower educators to create successful review stations for their classes. This includes strategies for ensuring the durability and reusability of the materials, management during the activities, benchmark alignment, and effective ways to check students’ work. Interactive review stations are an easy, effective method of facilitating student engagement and benchmark mastery.

PD 2361
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Room T-241a
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Why not ask them?

Monica Parker, Dr. Maria Oehler, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: 9-12; undergraduate science

In the absence of universal college-level assessment measures, students represent an often-untapped resource to assess the effectiveness of various teaching practices and tools. In this session we will discuss preliminary results from a student reflective survey. This survey was used in an online introductory biology laboratory course. The collected data will ultimately inform future instructional practices. For our students, these types of assessments foster transferrable skills such as self-reflection and self-directed learning.

PD 2359
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Room T-234
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Exploring Sustainable Agriculture: A Guided Tour of FSCJ's Aquaponics Lab

Lance “Doc” Culver, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

10-minute tour with a 5-minute Q & A, three tours per session.

1:40 p.m., 2:00 p.m., & 2:20 p.m.
Tour- meets at the Pearl St. entrance
No registration required

Form and Formula: Where Art Meets Scientific Thought

Kalia Toro-Sepulveda, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: 9-12; undergraduate science

This lecture explores the interplay between artistic production and scientific reasoning. From the proportions of ancient sculpture to the geometric precision of medieval cathedrals and the organic symmetry of Spanish 'modernismo', we uncover how visual expression is often grounded in mathematical and anatomical understanding. Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, we examine how artists pursue patterns, harmony, and structure just like scientists do, to interpret and shape the world. “Form and Formula” proposes a new way to engage students, as it invites a rethinking of the boundary between disciplines, revealing their shared pursuit of beauty and truth.

PD 2363
1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Room T-234
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From Classroom to Community: Beyond the Textbook, Turning Students into Science Ambassadors

Monica Parker, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: 9-12; undergraduate science

The ability to communicate scientific information effectively has become an increasingly important skill. In this session, we will discuss student work designed to launch a community outreach project. Students will demonstrate their ability to distill a diverse array of topics, ranging from wildlife conservation to health and medicine, in a way that engages and compels others to care. We will examine student reflections on the effectiveness of their communication strategies and assess the impact of this endeavor on their future interest in community outreach.

PD 2357
1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Room T-231
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Game On! Engaging Students Through Multidisciplinary Gamification

Pearl Wharton-Gill, Professor Jeniah Jones, Professor Jacqueline James, and Professor Abby Wright-Neal, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

The FSCJ Adult Education Team will demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach to gamification in the classroom as an engaging and andragogical approach to student success. This workshop is appropriate for K-12 and post-secondary instructors, instructional programs, and students.

PD 2368
1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Room T-241
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STEAM-ing Up Your Classroom with STEM + Literacy Activities

Jennifer Swanson, JenniferSwansonBooks.com

Target Audience: K-8

Join award-winning local STEM author Jennifer Swanson as she leads an interactive session on how to engage, excite, and inspire students with STEAM books and activities. She will provide examples of exciting content you can use in your own classrooms-- you may even discover which you would rather be: an astronaut or aquanaut? These award-winning and intriguing STEM books can be used to tap into readers’ natural curiosity, which will encourage them to dream more, do more, and to investigate everything!

PD 2369
1:40 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Room T-241a
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Exploring GMO Policies and Biodiversity in South Africa and Zimbabwe: A Project with the U.S State Department's Diplomacy Lab

Jason Walker, Dr. Lourdes McKay, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: 9-12; undergraduate science

In this session, learn about: (1) The U.S. State Department's Diplomacy Lab Program; (2) the findings of the project that FSCJ students completed through this program; and (3) the study abroad to South Africa and Zimbabwe that Diplomacy Lab students completed this summer.

PD 2375
2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Room T-241a
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Making Biotechnology Accessible (to Your K-12 classroom)

Dianne Fair, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12; undergraduate science

Biotechnology lab exercises need not be expensive or difficult to utilize in your K-12 classroom. In this brief demonstration, strategies for teaching CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, DNA fingerprint analysis (RFLP) and other cutting edge biotech topics will be presented. Suggestions for other lab activities such as PCR and gel electrophoresis will also be brainstormed.

PD 2365
2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Room T-234
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Water, Water Everywhere! Engaging Youth through Water Education

Ali Pressel, St. Johns River Water Management District

Target Audience: K-8; 9-12

The St. Johns River Water Management District provides a wealth of water education resources that can be quickly integrated into classrooms at any grade level. Multiple activities will be modeled, and each have lesson plans for educators to easily implement in their classrooms. Activities include information about the Floridan aquifer; the water cycle in Florida; aquatic health in coastal and freshwater ecosystems and analyzing hydrologic data. Educators learn how to access real-time stream flow data, hydrologic groundwater modeling, springs flow, and surface water from District scientists to bring real-world scientific data collection into classrooms across Florida.

PD 2370
2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Room T-241
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Why Choose STEM: A Historian’s Perspective

Maureen McCormick, Florida State College at Jacksonville

Target Audience: 9-12; undergraduate science

Americans are a scientific people, but science, technology, engineering, and medicine have for too long been the subtext of American history. This presentation examines how these disciplines intersect with each other and with the larger narrative of American history, from Newtonian physics and the rule of law to the nationalism of putting a man on the moon in 1969, and even the demographic changes of the 21st century.

PD 2364
2:40 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Room T-231
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