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Science experiments, lunar rover models and hands-on STEM activities took over the State Fair’s Grand Concourse on Sunday, Aug. 17, for STEM Day at the Iowa State Fair, hosted by the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.
Visitors to the fair took part in engaging hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities facilitated by STEM partners across the state.
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During the morning, fair attendees could observe students working to complete a Mission Moon challenge put forth by the NASA Iowa Space Grant Consortium.
At noon, a program in celebration of STEM and the newly signed Executive Order 14 included brief remarks from STEM Council co-chairs Diane Young and Lieutenant Governor Cournoyer along with Director of the Iowa Department of Education, Mackenzie Snow.
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“Thank you to the incredible teachers and programs that make learning exciting and real,” said council co-chair and Lieutenant Governor Cournoyer. “Every child in Iowa deserves the same opportunities to explore, discover and dream through STEM.”
In addition to activities on the Grand Concourse, there were a variety of STEM acts presented on the MidAmerican Energy Stage including animals and science experiments. Reed, a 5 year-old attending the State Fair with his family was very engaged during Wartburg College’s performance on Iowa reptiles.
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“It was a good, good show! One of the tortoises could be my friend because we are the same age,” said Reed.
STEM Day at the Fair was sponsored this year by Alliant Energy, Collins Aerospace, Google and MidAmerican Energy Company.
 The six 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Award recipients were honored in a celebration during STEM Day at the Capitol in March.
The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council is partnering with Google for the 2026 Iowa STEM Teacher Award. The nomination process was announced at the Iowa State Fair during STEM Day and nominations will be accepted through Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Now in its 12th year, the Iowa STEM Teacher Award recognizes one full-time, licensed PK-12 teacher from each of the state’s six STEM regions whose passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) motivates their students to develop a lifelong interest in STEM fields—both in and out of the classroom. The six selected recipients will each receive an award of $1,500 for their classrooms and $1,500 for personal use.
“We deeply appreciate Google’s partnership in recognizing teachers in Iowa with a true passion for STEM education," said Iowa STEM Bureau Chief Justin Lewis. “It takes a great deal of care and planning to craft an excellent curriculum that connects with students and excites them about the endless possibilities of the world of STEM. With Google’s support, we are honored to be able to showcase these individuals and give them the recognition they deserve.”
Any individual can nominate a teacher by visiting educate.iowa.gov/STEM/TeacherAward and completing the nomination form by Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 4:59 p.m. Additional information on the Iowa STEM Teacher Award, including past awardees, can be found on the Iowa Department of Education’s website. The award recipients will be announced in early 2026.
We are excited to share three new videos compiled over the summer featuring some of our teacher externs and their workplace host partners. Watch to see how teachers took time out of their summer breaks to step out of their classroom and into local businesses to gain real-world knowledge of how the skills they are teaching students connect to STEM careers.
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Cain Cushion, industrial technology teacher at Wapsie Valley High School partnered with Geater Machining & Manufacturing in Independence as a 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Extern.
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Lindsay Kasuga, science teacher at West Des Moines Valley High School worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Lake as a 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Extern.
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Tony McCutchan, science teacher at Winterset High School partnered with Barilla America in Ames as a 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Extern.
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 The 2024 Iowa Classrooms + Workplaces Summit.
Join us this fall for the 2025 Iowa STEM Summit - Accelerating Innovation. It will take place on Oct. 17 at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.
This full-day event brings together educators, industry leaders, policymakers and STEM advocates from across the state to explore innovative strategies, share best practices and hear from leaders who are advancing STEM education and artificial intelligence (AI) along with the technologies to support it.
Registration is required and is now open through Oct. 9.
The Iowa STEM Summit features engaging keynote speakers, interactive breakout sessions and networking opportunities designed to inspire and empower attendees. New to this year, the summit will have an AI track to explore the role of artificial intelligence in education, the workforce and everyday life.
Summit attendees will learn more about Iowa STEM Council programs and connect with the students, educators and partners participating in these programs to see the impact and reach of STEM initiatives. Whether as a classroom teacher, administrator, business partner or community leader, attendees will find valuable insights and connections to help advance STEM education and workforce development in Iowa.
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This year’s featured keynote speaker is Jay Flores, a Global STEM Ambassador, founder of Invent The Change and author of the bilingual children’s book Engineer Someday!. A dynamic science communicator, Flores has appeared on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, Amazon Prime Video’s Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?, PBS’s Make48 and Telemundo’s Exatlon, using his media presence to champion Hispanic representation in STEM. As one of the most influential voices in K–12 STEM education, Jay reaches millions of students monthly through Discovery Education’s Mystery Science and his live show It's Not Magic, It's Science!, which blends science and magic to spark curiosity.
Updates on session topics, speaker announcements and logistics will be released in the coming weeks. Mark your calendar for Oct. 17 and prepare to be part of an exciting day of learning and collaboration.
The 2025 Iowa STEM Summit is sponsored by Microsoft.
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For more information on the upcoming Iowa STEM Summit, contact the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at summit@IowaSTEM.org.
 STEM BEST® Program award applications for new and returning schools will open Sep. 3. Applications will be accepted in IowaGrants through Nov. 10. New this year, STEM BEST® awards will be for up to $50,000 with a 2:1 required match.
“We are thrilled to be able to raise the STEM BEST award amount to $50,000 to better serve Iowa schools and students,” said Tanya Hunt, STEM BEST Program Manager. “With more funding, our STEM BEST models will be better equipped to craft the authentic learning experiences that are so vital to students today.”
The STEM BEST® Program awards funding to K-12 public and private schools in Iowa to build long-lasting schools + business partnerships through authentic learning experiences. Teachers and industry professionals work side-by-side to craft curriculum and projects that help students develop high-demand skills and expose them to pathways of opportunity, honing in on interests and potential career opportunities.
Once awarded, there is a 17-month window for planning and implementation in which award funds can be used in a variety of ways including facility upgrades, purchasing industry grade equipment, acquiring additional space, time for program planning with partners, travel needs for exploration, integrating curriculum into existing courses, aligning learning with workplace needs and related professional development for either teachers, students or community partners.
Becoming a STEM BEST® model unlocks additional opportunities such as the Enhancement award to upgrade or improve upon a schools existing model. The STEM BEST® Explore award is the program’s summer extension to craft work-based learning experiences for students. Partners with STEM BEST® models also gain access to a growing statewide network of supportive counterparts across Iowa along with opportunities to collaborate at the annual statewide BEST STEM-posium.
Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council
Iowa Department of Education
214 East Bartlett Hall
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0298
515-335-1531
info@IowaSTEM.org
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