Initial Publication Date: January 15, 2026

Contributed Program: Oral and Poster sessions and Share-a-thon

The deadline to submit an abstract or presentation is March 4, 2026.

Submit an Abstract by March 4 » Submit a Share-a-thon Presentation by March 4 »

Overview

The contributed program at the Earth Educators' Rendezvous is an opportunity to present your work to colleagues from across the country. Three formats are available for presentations:

Oral sessions: Oral presenters will be given a 15-minute time slot for a 12-minute presentation followed by 3 minutes for questions. Oral sessions will group submissions by category, with several presentations per session, and a session chair who will facilitate the presentations and discussions. Session assignments will be in the final program, to be announced in April 2026. An oral presentation is a good opportunity to present completed work.
Poster session: Poster presenters will have space on a poster board to hang a maximum 42" x 48" poster. All posters will be presented in one session, with a wide array of topics. A poster provides the opportunity to talk about your work one-on-one or in small groups, and can be particularly useful for getting a lot of feedback and input.
Share-a-thon: The Share-a-thon is an opportunity to share a ready-to-go teaching resource, strategy, or activity with participants. Each accepted presenter will have a table (or part of a table) with an identifying sign where they can lay out resources. Participants will be able to move around to the presenter tables.

Submission limit: You may up to two submissions if one of them is an oral presentation. The other may be either a poster or a Share-a-thon. Note: The poster session and Share-a-thon will take place at the same time, so you will not be able to present in both.

You may wish to review the Presenter Guidelines before submitting your abstract or Share-a-thon submission. You may also wish to take a look at Oral, Poster, and Share-a-thon presentations from previous Rendezvous for examples.

Abstract submissions for oral and poster presentations:

The 2026 Rendezvous Contributed Program Committee is accepting abstracts in three broad categories:

Curriculum & Instruction: Contributions focused on designing, implementing, and assessing effective teaching practices and learning experiences in the geosciences. Topics may include (but are not limited to) innovative course design, active learning strategies, culturally responsive pedagogy, use of educational technology, and field- or place-based instruction across K–12, informal, and postsecondary settings.
Geoscience Education Research (GER): Contributions focused on research on how people learn geoscience and what supports student success, including theoretical and empirical studies. This includes (but is not limited to) studies of how K–12 and/or postsecondary students understand and use geoscience concepts, how learners develop interest and identity in the field, how to create inclusive learning environments, applications of conceptual and theoretical frameworks, and how to assess learning outcomes in both formal and informal contexts.
Building Strong Programs: Contributions focused on strategies for strengthening geoscience education programs at all levels and in all venues—from classroom initiatives to departmental or district-wide efforts to out-of-school and co-curricular programs. Topics include (but are not limited to) pathways into geoscience, outreach and partnerships, workforce development, recruitment and retention, and program evaluation in both formal education systems and nonformal learning environments like museums and community programs.

Abstract guidelines: