Pushing Forward for Climate Education! 

March 9th, 2025–  We’ve continued our efforts in climate education with our professional development session in Hawaii, which brought together non profit organizations, university partners, and educators to discuss how collaboration between the groups can become more effective in the future and subsequently improve educational equity and STEM education in Hawaiian schools.    

This meeting marked the midpoint in our participation in the “Frameworks for Phenomenal Science Success: Enhancing Partnerships for Aina-Based NGSS Experiences” study, which utilizes collaborative idea sharing to develop an “aina” or place based curriculum that improves STEM education and focuses on Hawaii’s environment. The Hawaii Science & Technology Museum (HSTM) hosted the meeting for the study, where shareholders presented their perspectives on effective collaboration to begin formulating well-rounded solutions to use in the local classrooms. This meeting included vital considerations for the future, including considering time limitations for teachers, determining how students are engaging with the content, and the pros and cons of integrating community resources into the classroom. These discussions will aid in ensuring the future curriculum can be used to create engaging and impactful content for upcoming students. 

This meeting is an important step towards educating, protecting, and advocating for Hawaii’s land, which is rich in wildlife and biodiversity. While the meeting ideas were initially jotted down on a small sheet of paper, they will eventually play a much larger role in impacting STEM education and collaboration. This study will ensure future collaboration models will be engaging, diverse in perspectives, and most of all: impactful. Any initiative made towards creating an impact will lead to change, and consistent strides even more so. Our hope is that we can focus on creating a positive impact in the future, building on previous knowledge, working with others, and pushing forward in our desire for a sustainable future in everything that we do.