Breaking Barriers: How STEM Can Unlock Every Student’s Potential

What does it feel like to face a barrier in learning, and how can STEM help students push through those challenges? In this hands-on, thought-provoking session, participants will explore the impact of barriers such as disability, discrimination, and socio-economic inequity on STEM participation. Through inclusive STEM challenges (with and without barriers), participants will experience the difference access makes, reflect on their own classroom practices, and explore how picture books can serve as powerful tools to help students see themselves, and others, as capable contributors to STEM. This session also highlights the real stories of overlooked STEM trailblazers who broke through systemic obstacles, providing ready-to-use resources to inspire and empower your students. Leave with practical strategies for designing more inclusive, equitable, and engaging STEM experiences for all learners.