Free virtual event to connect thousands of teachers with University of Hawai‘i science research

For the first time, the University of Hawai‘i STEM Pre-Academy is partnering with an educational technology company to present the 16th annual Science is Cool (ScIC) Unconference, connecting thousands of teachers worldwide with UH scientists and other experts through interactive online sessions.

Science educators around the world will get a front-row seat to groundbreaking research and innovation from the university and the company PocketLab during a free virtual unconference showcasing Hawaiʻi science excellence on July 22 and 23, according to a news release from the university.

“As part of our mission to connect University of Hawaiʻi research and innovation with K–12 classrooms, it was an easy decision to partner on Science Is Cool,” STEM Pre-Academy Director Lauren Kaupp said. “We’re excited for teachers both locally and globally to see some of the amazing science that happens every day across Hawaiʻi.”

Click here to register.

Session topics will include astronomy, forest ecology, volcanology, ocean sensing, wayfinding, marine biology, environmental science and coastal monitoring.

UH Mānoa will be represented with the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (including Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, Department of Oceanography and PacIOOS), School of Life Sciences, and Marine Option Program, along with UH Hilo’s ʻImiloa Astronomy Center. Guy Kawasaki, chief evangelist of Canva and UH Foundation trustee, will be a keynote speaker.

Kanesa Seraphin, director of the UH Sea Grant Center for Marine Science Education, will be sharing her work, including Voice of the Sea.

“I am really excited about this event because it is so interactive; we get to talk live and take audience questions—and it’s going to be huge!” Seraphin said.

Attendees will be in one Zoom room, with the goal of creating a collaborative experience throughout the day. Unlike a traditional conference, an unconference emphasizes interactive, participant-driven discussions and collaboration, allowing attendees to engage directly with presenters and one another rather than simply listening to lectures. Professional development certificates are provided for all attendees and video recordings of all sessions are available afterwards.

More than 22,000 educators signed up for the event in 2025, and organizers are aiming for more than 20,000 this year. ScIC is designed for teachers, however, anyone interested in STEM topics are welcome to join.