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What to Know Before You Go! (to CAST 2011)

Submitted by STAT on Tue, 11/15/2011 - 09:00

We're so excited to see you at CAST 2011:  The Art of Science!
Below you will find important details about badge pickup, tote bag pickup, parking, transportation, and more.
Please read this information carefully!

 

Click here for a general CAST Schedule.

What to Pack:
  • If you received your name badge in the mail make sure to bring it with you!
  • It will also help if you print and bring your conference agenda. Just go the CAST registration site, put in your name, email address and then your confirmation number.  Please note: You must use the same name and email address you used to register. Your agenda will make it faster for you to get into your registered sessions such as short courses, field trips and socials.  If you are part of a group, you must use the group administrator's name, email, and confirmation number to login.
  • If you have a smart phone, download the CAST App!  Our new App will help you get prepared for your conference by keeping all information at your fingertips.  You can also receive text alerts for important events, and much more! Remember:  Fill out your profile info to be entered to win a free registration for CAST 2012!
  • Please pack comfortable clothes including tennis shoes. The Dallas Convention Center is quite large, so bring your walking shoes.
  • Attire for the conference is casual.If you are attending field trips, bring a set of clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.  Also, do not forget to pack sweaters or a light jacket. Even with warm weather, the meeting rooms can be quite chilly.
  • Bring pens and paper.  Also be prepared to take away items from over 400 vendors. You will receive a giant tote bag this year, but some teachers might find that they need extra bags for more goodies.
  • Snacks. The Dallas Convention Center center will have multiple concession stands open and available.  There is a food court located behind registration that will be open at 7am each day.  Outside food is not allowed in the building. However, you might want to pack a few light snacks for your hotel room.
Transportation:
  • Registration, workshops, and short courses will all be held at the Dallas Convention Center Downtown. Field trips are off-site, but transportation will be provided. 
  • Transportation between the host hotels (the Sheraton and the Marriott) and the convention center is provided. For a full list of pickup places and times, please click here. If your hotel is not on the list of CAST host hotels, you will need to find alternate transportation  to the Convention Center. 
  • Parking: Several parking locations are available near the Convention Center.  Please click here to view the options available.
What to do when you arrive:
  • Pick up your name badge. If you didn’t register before October 14th, then you will need to pick up your name badge and conference materials. You will pick these up at the Dallas Convention Center Exhibit Hall C, Level 2. If you registered before October 14th but did not receive your badge in the mail, please go the Exhibit Hall C to one of the “Badge Printing” stations to have one printed. Exhibit Hall C is open: Wednesday 4-9 p.m., Thursday 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday 7 a.m.-10 a.m.
  • Pick up your tote bag. If you received your name badge in the mail, all you need to do is pick up your tote bag on-site. The location and times for tote bag pickup are the same as the name badge printing stations above. You must have your name badge to pick up your tote bag.
Once you have your tote bag and name badge, you are free to go to your sessions! We recommend picking up your materials Wednesday evening so you are free to begin attending the workshops of your choice on Thursday morning. 

Attending Workshops:
  • Workshops are included for all full conference attendees. Due to the logistics of offering so many free workshops, we are unable to allow attendees to reserve spaces. Therefore, workshops attendance is on a first come, first served basis.  Arrive early!
  • There are over 600 workshops occurring over the course of the conference so use the printed program and your CAST App wisely to help you get from session to session.*You must have a name badge in order to get into the workshops. Please also note that every room needs to be cleared after every session so that the next presenter may set up for the next workshop.
Jam Sessions:
  • Jam sessions are 45 minute-long workshops for larger audiences, including presenters like the Texas Education Agency and the Discovery Channel.
  • Jam sessions will begin 15 minutes after each round of regular workshops begin. So in case one of your workshops is full, you will have time to plan on attending a Jam session!
Adding Paid Sessions:
  • You may add additional paid sessions (short courses, luncheons, and field trips) before the conference. You can do this at home before you leave or you can add short courses or field trips at on-site registration.
  • All paid sessions will close online the day before they take place.
Field Trip Pick-up:
  • Transportation for field trips is provided. Buses pick up at curbside Lobby D, Level 1 of the Dallas Convention Center. Please arrive no later than 20 minutes before the departure time listed on the program to avoid delays.
  • Each event will have a presider holding up signs for the departing trips. Find your sign and stand with your group. The group presider will lead you to the buses.
  • It will help if you have your conference personal agenda printed to show proof of your registration.
  • Field trips will leave on time—do not arrive late for your departure.
Continuing Education Credit:
  • All sessions at CAST offer TEA approved continuing education credit. In the back of your program, there is a form to fill out which sessions you attended to count your hours.
Volunteer Check-In:
  • If you have offered to volunteer please check in at the Volunteer Booth in Exhibit Hall C. If you have extra time in your schedule and would like to contribute to CAST, please stop in and donate your time to keep CAST moving smoothly!  Sign up to volunteer here!
Please call the STAT Office at 512-491-6685 or email us at stat@bizaustin.rr.com with any other questions!
Thank you for your attention, and have a safe trip to Dallas!

 

 

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Professor Jim Westgate Honored as 2011 Piper Professor

Submitted by STAT on Tue, 05/03/2011 - 09:14

From KYTX

A Lamar University professor is one of 10 Texas professors to be honored by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation as a 2011 Piper Professor.

The award is given annually to 10 professors for superior teaching at the college level,  in the State of Texas.

James Westgate, university professor of earth and space sciences, is the 12th Lamar faculty member to receive the honor since the program began in 1958.

Lamar officials announced the award earlier today, at a news conference in the Geology Building, where Westgate has taught, conducted laboratories and maintained offices since he joined the faculty in 1989.

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STAT Member Named Regional Winner in NSTA’s Shell Science Lab Challenge

Submitted by STAT on Fri, 04/29/2011 - 13:05

HOUSTON, Texas — April 21, 2011 — Bhavna Rawal, a science teacher at Northbrook High School in Houston, Texas, has been named a regional winner in NSTA’s Shell Science Lab Challenge, a new competition for middle and high school science teachers. The Challenge encouraged teachers (grades 6-12), who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited school and laboratory resources, to share their approaches for a chance to win a school science lab makeover support package valued at $20,000. Rawal is one of 17 regional winners named, from which five national winners will be chosen, and from the national winners a grand prize winner will be selected.