Nov. 13–15, 2025 | Dallas, TX

The Hildebrand K–12 Outreach Team hosted a booth to engage with Texas science educators about professional development opportunities and classroom resources. The team also presented three engaging workshops — Energize the Future; Put It Back: Carbon Capture and Sequestration Engineering Design Challenge; and Pack It In: Rock Models That Rock the Classroom. Each session featured standards-aligned classroom resources designed to help educators seamlessly integrate energy industry content and engineering design skills into their existing curricula. CAST is sponsored by the Science Teacher Association of Texas (STAT).

Oct. 29, 2025 | San Antonio, TX

ESC-20 provides professional development and technical assistance for implementation of the Science TEKS by analyzing data to enhance instructional practices to meet the needs of students, and provides targeted support to reach campus and district goals. Sabrina Ewald presented to these secondary science leaders about the Choose Energy K–12 Outreach program and the variety of teacher resources and professional development opportunities offered.

This full-day field trip took place during the Geological Society of America Annual Conference and was endorsed by UT Austin’s Choose Energy K–12 Outreach Program, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and GSA’s Geology and Health, Structural Geology and Tectonics, and Environmental and Engineering Geology Divisions. The field trip offered educators an immersive experience exploring geological formations and visiting active oil and gas sites. Participants engaged with geoscience professionals from industry, academia and regulatory agencies; gained insights into careers in Earth science; and received classroom-ready resources.

Aug. 26, 2025 | Houston, TX

Participants learned to access outreach resources to engage with K–12 students, teachers and the community from expert Earth Science educators with connections in academia, industry, nonprofit and government circles. Panelists represented UT Austin’s Center for Subsurface Energy and the Environment and Bureau of Economic Geology; the Switch Energy Alliance; and the American Geosciences Institute.

July 23, 2025 | Midland, TX

Participants lassoed a wealth of insights and strategies to enhance their teaching prowess and make this rodeo an unforgettable learning experience in two workshops led by Dr. Hilary Olson and Dr. Jon Olson: Hydraulic Fracturing: Key to the Oil and Gas Shale Boom and the Success of Geothermal Energy and Put It Back: Decarbonizing Industry with Carbon Capture and Storage.

July 14–18, 2025 | Austin, TX

This five-day summer program led by UT Austin faculty members introduces STEM high school teachers to the latest technological innovations in the Texas energy industry. Covers themes such as the global energy marketplace, petroleum engineering, water-energy connection, energy portfolio mix, geothermal energy, carbon storage, and hydrogen storage. Includes hands-on activities and labs; discussion and breakout sessions; online coursework; and opportunities to meet faculty and discuss technology, engineering, careers and other topics in an informal setting.

June 11–12, 2025 | Midland, TX

Workshop
Designed for 7th–12th grade STEM teachers in the Midland/Odessa area. FREE with a $50 refundable registration fee. Gain access to valuable classroom resources and activities focused on oil, gas and energy production and explore the industry firsthand through visits to various field locations and work sites. 17 CPE hours.

April 26, 2025 | Fort Worth, TX

Workshop
Empowers participants to effectively teach earth science and energy concepts through standards-aligned content. Provides hands-on training; lesson plans; resources to engage students and foster a love for science; and information on STEM careers in energy and earth science. 8 CPE hours.

March 18–19, 2025 | Las Vegas, NV

Workshops
Energize the Future — Examine energy consumption at both a global and personal level and explore the quantity and types of energy resources required to meet society’s energy demands. Learn kinesthetic and engaging hands-on activities to incorporate into classroom lessons.

Journey Back in Time: Using Fossils to Study Geologic History — Learn how relative dating principles and fossils are used to study Earth’s history and apply your knowledge to arrange a set of fossils into their proper stratigraphic order to be used as a reference sequence. Leave with a better understanding of geologic history and easy-to-use, hands-on activities.

Nov. 14–16, 2024 | San Antonio, TX

Workshops

• Understanding the Past, Present, and Future — Using the Fossil Record to Track Changes in Earth’s Climate
• Hydraulic Fracturing and Geothermal Energy — Diversifying Engineering and Technology Applications in the Energy Sector

Nov. 6–9, 2024 | New Orleans, LA

Workshops

• Put It Back: Carbon Capture and Sequestration Engineering Design Challenge
• How Do We Study Paleoclimate? Using the Fossil Record to Track Changes in Earthʼs Climate

Oct. 28–30, 2024 | Colorado Springs, CO

Outreach Committee Session Presentation
Engaging with Teachers to Encourage Energy Literacy