I learned how coral reef protect our underwater forests!
Did you know our ancestors used the stars to find their way across the ocean?
I created a cyclone in a bottle to see how storms affect us!
I built a device that turns waves into electricity!
The above could all be sparked by STEMtastic Adventures. So how do we get there?
As a start, please join us for the STEMtastic Adventures! with Young Pacific Leaders Symposium which will bring together education and youth champions from Ministries of Education, industry representatives, non-profits, donors and development agencies working in the Pacific Islands and representatives of indigenous Pacific Island communities based in New Zealand and Australia.
The mEducation Alliance is collaborating with the State Department’s Young Pacific Leaders Initiative to host this event designed to provide an important venue for sharing good practices and accelerating knowledge-exchange, networking, partnership and funding opportunities among relevant stakeholders, including Ministries of Education, multilateral and bilateral donor and development agencies, and other nonprofit and for-profit organizations and individuals working in this space.
Providing education and employment pathways for Pacific Island youth is essential, as they make up a significant portion of the region’s estimated 2.57 million population, with 40 percent under the age of 18. In addition, women in the Pacific constitute less than a quarter of the workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), highlighting the urgent need to create and accelerate opportunities for women in these fields.
STEM education and careers are particularly critical for addressing the environmental challenges faced by the Pacific Islands. With over 25,000 islands spanning 15% of the Earth’s surface, the region is home to unique and diverse environments, including rich marine ecosystems. Pacific youth and STEM professionals will play a vital role in mitigating and adapting to the consequences of natural and human-induced environmental changes.
The mEducation Alliance (mEA) and our members are committed to strengthening educational ecosystems to bring wondrous learning opportunities to those in low-resource contexts. Because of its centrality for global and national development, we’ve previously organized two global Symposia on STEM education in 2023 and 2024. This will be our second regional Symposia, with another having being held for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, from July 22nd – 25th, 2025 🙂
Have something STEMtastic to share? Please consider submitting a presentation proposal.
Interested in being a general attendee (not a presenter) at the event? We are also accepting requests for these on a rolling basis as well.
Event Features
Symposium Highlights
- Thought-provoking and engaging presentations in a variety of STEM literacy track topics
- Maximized networking and knowledge exchange opportunities
- Coding and Robotics Showcase
- “Dolphin Tank” pitch sessions with STEM ed app developers
- STEM Education Village with exhibitors — and food!
- Play spaces for tech and non-tech STEM games
- Research spotlight sessions
- Facilitated dialogues with Ministry of Education officials from several countries and donor representatives funding and/or supporting STEM education initiatives
- STEM game giveaways!
- Featured sessions hosted by mEducation Alliance members
Target Audience
As with our prior Symposia, we anticipate a dynamic audience of leading thinkers, activists, and implementers. The Symposium will bring together a diverse array of organizational representatives, including:
- Young Pacific Leaders
- Government and Policy Representatives
- International and Regional Organizations
- Technology and Innovation Experts
- Foundations and Non-/For-Profit Institutions
- Researchers, Teachers, and Students
Objectives
As a result of this event, participating individuals and organizations from the Pacific Islands, the United States, and other countries will:
- Strengthen partnerships and networks between the US and Pacific Island nations, international organizations, donor countries, and the private sector to enhance collaboration and coordination around regional and national STEM education opportunities and shared goals;
- Showcase noteworthy and impactful STEM education activities, including those focused on emerging technologies, climate education and youth STEM employment, etc. among attendees for possible integration and replication into formal and non-formal educational settings in the Pacific Islands;
- Learn about STEM education initiatives from Pacific Island communities;
- Engage in a global community of STEM education champions being advanced by the mEducation Alliance (mEA) and other collaborators; and,
- Attract new in-kind, technical, and financial support for promising STEM education initiatives.
Event Tracks & Sponsorship
Event Tracks
The event will feature tracks centered on key themes shaping STEM education and innovation in the Pacific Islands, including:
- Accessibility with Limited Resources
- AI and Emerging Technologies
- Conservation & Climate Education
- Inclusive Education
- Mathical Thinking
- Foundational Learning
- Youth Entrepreneurship / Employability
- Teacher Empowerment
- Policy and Funding
These tracks will form the foundation for dynamic presentations, workshops, and discussions throughout the symposium.
Track Sponsorship Opportunities:
Track sponsorship is available as part of our tiered sponsorship options. We invite organizations to adopt one of the track themes listed above or propose a track that aligns with their interests and expertise.
Sponsorship
To successfully host the conference, the mEducation Alliance is inviting partnerships with organizations, donors, and sponsors committed to advancing STEM education in the Pacific Islands. Opportunities for collaboration include:
- Sponsorship Packages: Choose from Gold, Silver, and Bronze sponsorship tiers, offering benefits such as co-creating and hosting Symposium tracks, branding opportunities, speaking slots, and access to exclusive networking events.
- Track Sponsorships: Collaborate with us on event planning, contributing to the development of compelling content and attracting engaging presenters.
- Travel Sponsorships: Help fund travel for Ministry of Education representatives and young professionals to ensure their participation at the event.
- Programmatic Partnerships: Collaborate with for-profit and non-profit organizations to co-host workshops, innovation showcases, and other engaging activities.
- Media and Communications Partnerships: Partner with media outlets and digital platforms to expand the Symposium’s reach and amplify its impact.
Symposium sponsors enjoy prominent recognition and access to unique networking opportunities throughout the event. Join us in developing the 2025 STEMtastic Adventures! with Young Pacific Leaders Symposium program. Together, we can create a transformative event that advances STEM education in the Pacific Islands.
For further inquiries, partnership opportunities, and registration details, please contact us at [email protected]
