2019 MONTANA SCIENCE SUMMER INSTITUTE
August 6-7, 2019 | Montana State University-Bozeman
[page updated August 8, 2019]
School Services of Montana (SSoM), in collaboration with the Montana State University Science Math Resource Center (SMRC), is thrilled to bring you the 2nd Annual Science Summer Institute: Connecting Classrooms to Careers, August 6-7, 2019 at Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. This conference is designed for educators and administrators at grade levels pre-K through 12, as well as for out-of-school professionals seeking professional learning in science and STEM education, and to collaborate and learn from educators in Montana and surrounding states.
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Last year, keynote Emily Morgan helped kick off our conference with the theme of “Making Science Meaningful”. This year’s theme, "Connecting Classrooms to Careers" helps connect learning to applications in science and STEM related fields, from the early childhood years through High School. Our keynote and sessions will support you with inspiration, strategies, and resources to support this theme in your work.
Your two-day registration includes: on-campus parking, a light breakfast, lunch vouchers for the nationally award winning Rendezvous Dining Hall on MSU-Bozeman campus, admission to the Museum of the Rockies 'MOR Science' Kickoff Social, a copy of Next Time You See a Bee book*, over 30 incredible professional learning sessions, and opportunities to peruse resources in the expanded exhibitors area!
Your two-day registration includes: on-campus parking, a light breakfast, lunch vouchers for the nationally award winning Rendezvous Dining Hall on MSU-Bozeman campus, admission to the Museum of the Rockies 'MOR Science' Kickoff Social, a copy of Next Time You See a Bee book*, over 30 incredible professional learning sessions, and opportunities to peruse resources in the expanded exhibitors area!
$185 per person; $150 for SSoM & MSTA Members, and full-time college students
[Not sure if your district is a SSoM member? Click HERE for the complete list.]
[Not sure if your district is a SSoM member? Click HERE for the complete list.]
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Select Montana CSPDs are offering conference scholarships on a first come, first served basis. You must be currently employed as a teacher in their region for scholarship consideration.
Steps for applying:
1. Register & pay for this conference.
2. Submit the form through CSPD I. or IV.
3. If selected, request reimbursement from the corresponding CSPD after the conference (keep receipts to include with your reimbursement request).
Steps for applying:
1. Register & pay for this conference.
2. Submit the form through CSPD I. or IV.
3. If selected, request reimbursement from the corresponding CSPD after the conference (keep receipts to include with your reimbursement request).
Region I. CSPD Scholarship Opportunity
-team scholarships (teams of 2 or more) for educators who teach in Region I. of up to $400 in conference registration fees (paid after the conference). Click here for details & application link. |
Region IV. CSPD Scholarship Opportunity
-team scholarships (teams of 2 or more for educators who teach in Region IV. of up to $400 in conference registration fees (paid after the conference). Click here for details & application link. |
FEATURED KEYNOTE & FREE BOOK

This year's keynote speaker is Clay Bolt, Natural History and Conservation Photographer specializing in the world's smallest creatures. He regularly partners with organizations such as the National Geographic Society, National Wildlife Federation, and Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Clay is an Associate Fellow in the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP) and past president of the North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA). His current major focus is on North America’s native bees and the important roles they play in our lives. He was a leading voice in the fight to protect the rusty-patched bumble bee as a federally protected species under the Endangered Species Act, which became North America's first federally protected native bee in 2017. In January 2019, Clay became the first photographer to document a living Wallace's Giant Bee—the world's largest bee—as a part of a four person exploration team to rediscover the species in the Indonesian islands known as the North Moluccas.

*Register for our conference by July 15, 2019 to receive a FREE paperback copy of the newest edition to the Next Time You See book series, Next Time You See A Bee! Clay Bolt is one of the leading photographers for this book series that covers a range of everyday phenomena, designed to get students to observe and think critically about these phenomena to learn about their world. Clay is passionate about bees, and many of the photographs in his latest book were taken in his hometown of Bozeman, Montana. Click here to read the NSTA review.
"MOR SCIENCE" KICKOFF SOCIAL
Kickoff your Science Summer Institute experience on Monday, August 5 at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT. The “MOR Science" Social will take place from 6:30-8:30 pm. The event includes FREE admission for you and your family to the Museum exhibits, a planetarium show, and a chance to peruse some of MOR’s educational resources. Beat the lines on Day 1: pre-registration for the conference will be available at this social gathering, and you can pick up your parking hang tags, too!
GENERAL EVENT SCHEDULE OUTLINE
[click to view; subject to change]
[click to view; subject to change]
NEW! DETAILED EVENT SCHEDULE
[click to view; subject to change]
[click to view; subject to change]
STEM PANEL
The Science Summer Institute will conclude with a panel session focused on bringing together a group of representatives from key STEM industries in Montana. Panelists will share a bit about their path from education - beginning with early experiences in K-12 - to a career in STEM. This event will also kickoff the STEM Summit event beginning the day after the Science Summer Institute (scroll down further for details).
OPI RENEWAL UNITS & MSU NON-DEGREE GRAD CREDIT
Registrants may earn up to 15 OPI renewal units, or one (1) professional development credit may be earned through Montana State University - Bozeman by attending both days (15 hours) of the Science Summer Institute. The cost of this non-degree grad credit is $155. Click here for details. Registration for MSU credit will open on Day 1 of our conference.
PARKING & LODGING
Parking permit hang tags for the B/C lots on MSU campus Aug. 6 & 7 are included in your registration fee for those who need them. Details about where to park and how to acquire your parking permit will be sent out in July. Parking passes will not be available for people who register after August 1.
We were able to secure a block of rooms in the new Yellowstone Hall dormitory on MSU-Bozeman campus for conference attendees at a very budget-friendly price with single and double occupancy options. You will be responsible for your own reservations and payment. The registration link is now available! Please click here - the site will ask you to register; scroll to the bottom of the list when selecting the conference you will be attending. MSU housing is limited. PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER FOR MSU HOUSING UNTIL YOU'VE REGISTERED FOR OUR CONFERENCE.
The newly renovated Lewis & Clark Motel in Bozeman offered us a room block at the summer state rate for our conference registrants - double occupancy only (up to 4 people per room max), cutoff date is July 1. Please click here for complete details including the group / promo code and booking instructions.
VRBO (vacation rental by owner) and Airbnb are excellent options for single rooms or groups renting the entire house (book early - availability disappears quickly in Bozeman in the summer). Both of these links go to their Bozeman sites.
We were able to secure a block of rooms in the new Yellowstone Hall dormitory on MSU-Bozeman campus for conference attendees at a very budget-friendly price with single and double occupancy options. You will be responsible for your own reservations and payment. The registration link is now available! Please click here - the site will ask you to register; scroll to the bottom of the list when selecting the conference you will be attending. MSU housing is limited. PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER FOR MSU HOUSING UNTIL YOU'VE REGISTERED FOR OUR CONFERENCE.
The newly renovated Lewis & Clark Motel in Bozeman offered us a room block at the summer state rate for our conference registrants - double occupancy only (up to 4 people per room max), cutoff date is July 1. Please click here for complete details including the group / promo code and booking instructions.
VRBO (vacation rental by owner) and Airbnb are excellent options for single rooms or groups renting the entire house (book early - availability disappears quickly in Bozeman in the summer). Both of these links go to their Bozeman sites.
STEM SUMMIT
On August 8, 2019, from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m., the morning after our Science Summer Institute concludes, there will be a FREE STEM Summit brought to you by the Montana Afterschool Alliance (MTAA) and the MSU Science Math Resource Center (SMRC). ALL of our conference attendees are welcome to attend. This unconference-style event will gather stakeholders from K-12, before & after school programs, higher education, and the business community to explore STEM delivery strategies that are working statewide, and map next steps to help spark curiosity and build skills for learners around Montana. Please click here for complete details and registration options.
$185 per person; $150 for SSoM & MSTA Members, and full-time College Students
[Not sure if your district is a SSoM member? Click HERE for the complete list.]
[Not sure if your district is a SSoM member? Click HERE for the complete list.]
2019 CONFERENCE PARTNERS

The Montana State University Science Math Resource Center (SMRC) is devoted to the advancement of science and mathematics teaching and learning. SMRC provides professional development for a new generation of K-12 educators of tribal, rural, and urban communities through both face-to-face and online platforms, conducts educational research, and coordinates the statewide annual Science Olympiad that is held at Montana State University in Bozeman. SMRC is also a partner of the Montana Science Teachers Association (MSTA). Please click their logo for more information about SMRC.
2019 CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Interested in becoming an event sponsor with a table? Want more info about this year's exhibitor perks and add-ons? Did you know exhibitors are invited to attend the 'MOR Science' kickoff social for FREE on Monday, August 5th??? Did you also know that sponsor fees help keep registration costs down for our Montana educators? [insert warm fuzzy feeling here]
- click on our sponsor logos below to check out their websites -