Upcoming Conference

Due to the ongoing COVID19 outbreak, the MLC Board and Conference Committee have decided to postpone the Mobile Laboratory Coalition Annual Conference until July of 2021. 

With the present uncertainty around the course of this pandemic, and the way it has already disrupted programs, schedules, and budgets, we decided that postponing was not only the safest option, but also the one that will allow more people to attend and make the conference the best it can be. 

This was not an easy decision, as the Conference Committee and hosts have put a tremendous amount of work into planning and preparation, and we know the value of our conference for strengthening best practices and personal connections in our specialized community. There's just no substitute for gathering in person, and we are as disappointed as you are that we can't make it happen this year.

As for next year, we are still solidifying the dates, but the 2021 Conference will be held in the same location in Colorado Springs, hosted by CSU and NSSTI. Stay tuned for more information. Until then, the Board and Conference Committee are exploring other ways to maintain connections and share ideas this year, so look out for subsequent announcements about virtual connections (virtual Mobile Lab Rodeo, anyone?). If you have any suggestions or ideas, please feel free to let us know.

Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we look forward to finding creative ways to strengthen our community through these challenging times, and hearing your stories of perseverance and innovation in 2021. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Accelerating Science Education Conference 2020

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​This ​annual ​gathering of ​dedicated ​professionals ​who ​share ​a ​passion ​for ​inspiring ​children ​and ​empowering ​educators ​by ​providing ​expertise ​and ​hands-on ​inquiry ​based ​activities ​in ​classrooms ​on ​wheels, ​provides ​a ​unique ​opportunity ​to ​network, ​learn ​best ​practices, ​explore ​evaluation ​techniques, ​discover ​the ​latest ​curriculum, ​or more. ​

WHERE

Hotel Eleganté, Colorado Springs, Colorado

WHEN

July 28-31, 2020

We ​look ​forward ​to ​seeing ​you ​in Colorado Springs!

Hosted by Colorado State University and The National Space Science & Technology Institute, the 2020 Conference will be held at the Hotel Eleganté in Colorado Springs, Colorado July 28-31.  

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Abstract Submission and Application for Travel Stipends

The 2020 MLC Conference planning committee is working to develop an impactful agenda and invites you to be part of it! We encourage participation from members at all levels and offer a variety of options for presenting. 

Workshops
Abstracts for workshops will be accepted through April 3. There are two formats for workshops for the 2020 conference: traditional single-speaker 50-minute sessions suitable for in-depth, well-developed presentations on key topics, and multi-speaker workshops. The multi-speaker format allows for idea sharing, greater content flexibility, and also offers presentation opportunities for attendees who may not be comfortable developing content for a longer session format. For multi-speaker workshops, presenters will be asked to submit a single topic that can be addressed in a 10-15 minute mini-session, which will be combined with other related topics into a longer session for a holistic review of the subject.

The organizing committee is seeking workshop presenters for the topics below, although other topics will also be considered. When submitting your abstract, please indicate whether you would prefer a single-speaker or multi-speaker format for your workshop.

• Building a mobile laboratory

• Interfacing with your audience and incorporating technology into your teaching

• Culturally-responsive pedagogy/teaching

• Aligning curriculum with education standards

• Curriculum design and delivery

• Collaborative projects and successful partnerships

• Professional development for teachers

• Collecting meaningful evaluation data

• Marketing your program

Posters
Abstracts for poster presentations will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 5. The poster session will be held on Wednesday, July 29. All attendees are invited to present a poster describing their program.

Travel Stipends
Thanks to funding from the NIH, a limited number of travel stipends are available to help offset the cost of attending the conference. Preference will be given to those presenting a workshop or poster, but anyone may apply.
 

CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT AN ABSTRACT FOR A WORKSHOP OR POSTER PRESENTATION
 

Venue and Lodging

The primary location for this year's conference is the Hotel Eleganté Conference & Event Center located at 2886 S Circle Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80906.

We have reserved a block of rooms at the Hotel Eleganté Conference & Event Center. Rooms are available at the discounted rate of $139.00 per night (tax and fees not included). The room block will be held until June 29, 2020. 

Reserve your room here. 

Showcase Your Own Mobile Lab

A key part of the conference is the opportunity for attendees to view mobile labs, therefore we are extending an invitation to bring your mobile lab to the conference. Overnight parking will be available at no cost, and additional funds may be available to offset the cost of bringing your vehicle to the conference.

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Mobile lab tours will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Please contact conference host Bob Sallee prior to May 1, 2020. if you are interested in showcasing your mobile lab at this year’s conference.