The Power of Connection: Reflections from NSTA Minneapolis 2025

By: Dr. Daniel Edelson, BSCS Executive Director

Estimated read time: 2 minutes

At NSTA Minneapolis, one message rang clear: connection is the key to unlocking transformation in science education. From the stories we heard about building learning communities, to supporting mentoring programs, to engaging students in science through their lived experiences, the theme of connection was everywhere.

We saw how high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) are more than just products—they’re catalysts for coherence and engagement. But their true power is unleashed when paired with intentional, curriculum-based professional learning. And good professional learning experiences bring teachers together to learn and build community.  These efforts don’t just support instruction—they build resilience, foster belonging, and elevate teacher leadership.

We also heard about how connection happens in classrooms. When students join together to ask questions about phenomena, they form learning communities. When they collaborate to create models and construct explanations, they are learning how diverse perspectives increase community. When they reflect on what they have learned together, they strengthen the connections that will help them through the intellectual challenges they will face next.

When we prioritize connection—between educators, between students, between disciplines, and between the classroom and the outside world—something powerful happens. Teachers don’t just thrive; they lead with purpose. And students don’t just learn about the world; they discover their place in it.

Whether it’s building mentoring communities for educators, designing inclusive classrooms, or helping students see themselves in the science they explore, connection is what drives meaningful, lasting change. Let’s carry this momentum forward. Let’s continue to invest in each other, listen deeply, and lead boldly. Because when we stay connected—to our purpose, to our peers, and to our students—we don’t just shape the future of science education. We shape the future itself.

Join us in this work. Share your stories, build your networks, and keep the conversation going—because the future of science belongs to all of us.