 The 2026 Iowa STEM Summit: Where Bold Ideas Take Flight is just around the corner and today is the last day to register! It’s your final opportunity to join hundreds of educators, business leaders, community partners, policymakers and students on Nov. 6 to learn more about STEM initiatives throughout Iowa and celebrate STEM education in Iowa. The Summit will be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.
In a fitting nod to this year’s aerospace focus, the keynote speaker is retired astronaut, author and aerospace engineering professor Clayton Anderson. The first 200 people at check-in will also receive a copy of his book, It's a Question of Space: An Ordinary Astronaut's Answers to Sometimes Extraordinary Questions.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, collaborate and be inspired. Register today and join us as we celebrate the partnerships and innovations shaping the future of STEM education in Iowa. We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 Iowa STEM Summit!
Registration is required in advance but is free of charge thanks to the Summit's premier sponsor, Microsoft.
Throughout the Iowa STEM Summit, attendees can choose from dozens of breakout sessions innovative approaches in STEM education, workforce development and career-connected learning. Topics range from artificial intelligence, biotechnology and aerospace to accessibility, student engagement, teacher leadership, work-based learning and community partnerships, providing practical strategies and fresh ideas.
Attendees can experience the Student Poster Walk, where students will showcase their projects, research and innovative ideas. This interactive experience offers a firsthand look at the creativity, curiosity and talent of Iowa students and is a new feature of this year's Summit.
Visit the Student Swag Stations to collect a one-of-a-kind giveaway designed and produced by student partners in our STEM BEST® Program. As an added bonus, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look as students demonstrate the tools, technology and creativity that bring these products to life.
Register now to join us and chart a course to STEM success.
 The STEM BEST® Program is helping districts like Storm Lake CSD create opportunities for students to explore, experiment and think in new ways through hands-on experiences. This real-world learning encourages students to think creatively, solve problems and see themselves as innovators.
Less than a week remains to submit applications for the STEM BEST® Program award.
The STEM BEST® Program provides funding for new and returning schools to expand work-based and career-connected learning opportunities. Through partnerships with businesses and communities, students gain hands-on experiences that develop high-demand skills, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and prepare them for future education and career opportunities.
Applications are due Nov. 3. For more information on the STEM BEST® Program, visit our webpage or contact program coordinator Tanya Hunt at hunt@iowastem.org.
 |
|
"It has been amazing to see how much I learned in such a short amount of time and I'm so grateful RCS Millwork trusted me with so much responsibility."
Avery Wolfkill
2026 Iowa STEM Teacher Extern at RCS Millwork
|
The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is now accepting applications for the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program summer 2027 cohort.
The Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program places STEM educators with knowledgeable and skilled industry professionals to help bring classroom curriculum to life and build partnerships between schools and local workplaces.
During the 5-6 week summertime placement, teachers step outside the classroom and experience firsthand how STEM concepts are applied in real-world workplaces. The experience provides exposure to current technologies, industry practices and career pathways that can be integrated into classroom lessons. This helps students to better understand the relevance of what they are learning. Educators and local employers also build valuable relationships, strengthening community connections and returning to the classroom with new ideas and experiences.
Teacher externs earn up to $5,500 and three (3) graduate credits from UNI.
Visit our website or contact program coordinator Ann Gritzner at Gritzner@IowaSTEM.org to learn more.
|
“I will be able to use skills learned here to better my teaching and just having knowledge of how other professions operate is invaluable as a teacher.”
Dale Hanson
2026 Iowa STEM Teacher Extern at Effigy Mounds National Monument
|
|
 |
 STEMsights is written by members of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council’s Youth Ambassador group. This is their space to share insight and ideas on STEM events and initiatives important to Iowa students, written by Iowa students.
Youth Ambassador Authors: Claire Lu, Lauren Rouse, Avika Rastogi, Arya Ravikumar, Seth Boyle, RJ Smith
This year, 14 Iowa high school students were selected to go to Greece to explore STEM in agriculture. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach partnered with the American Farm School in Thessaloniki, Greece, where students stayed on campus for part of the trip and learned from students who study abroad or are from Greece. This unique experience offered college credit to attending members. Students on the trip completed a set of lesson plans and journal entries to receive this credit and to expand the STEM knowledge of others upon returning home.
“STEM AgriVenture is taking learning beyond the classroom and giving young people the opportunity to see how STEM, agriculture, technology and innovation connect across the world,” said Alexa Groff, the creator and advisor of the STEM AgriVenture. “Through this experience, students are not only learning with industry experts in Iowa and Greece, but they are applying that knowledge in authentic settings while earning college credit from Iowa State University. We want young people to return home seeing themselves not only as students, but as future scientists, agricultural leaders, entrepreneurs and problem-solvers who are prepared to make an impact.”
Students experienced Greek culture and agriculture firsthand through activities alongside local students and staff. Throughout this process, they learned about agribusiness from the owner of Mariana’s Vineyard. They also visited local schools to learn how students in Greece approach education and prepare for future careers.
 |
|
“I have had such a wonderful experience and learned so much about Greek culture and agriculture. There is so much knowledge that I am so excited to take home,” said Chloe Rickertsen, a student at North Scott High School.
For these students, the experience was about more than just traveling to a new country. It was about seeking new possibilities for their futures, building friendships and bringing what they learned back home.
|
“This trip has provided me with an amazing opportunity to learn about the difference between Greek and American agriculture and how we could potentially learn from each other,” shared Hayden Ocheltree, a student at North Polk High School.
Although the cost of participation was $5,500, most students either received scholarships through the State Science and Technology Fair of Iowa or fundraised in their communities. Local extension and outreach offices also helped make the opportunity more accessible to students across Iowa.
“4-H and participating in Iowa STEM activities has opened so many doors for me. I never would have imagined that opportunities I would receive through science and agriculture activities would take me somewhere as amazing as Greece. This trip has truly been an experience of a lifetime, and I am deeply grateful for everyone who encouraged me in my STEM education to get me where I am today,” said Lauren Rouse, an Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador.
Students who would like to know more about this opportunity can visit the STEM AgriVenture webpage to learn more. Applications are expected to open later this year or early 2027 for the next excursion!
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
|
