ASTC 2026 Annual Conference
September 16–19, 2026 Phoenix, Arizona
Optional Events
Available events are subject to change.
Host Party at Arizona Science Center
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Off-site, Arizona Science Center, 600 E Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Description: Celebrate the start of ASTC 2026 at an unforgettable opening party hosted by Arizona Science Center—where science, discovery, and celebration come together for an incredible night! Enjoy delicious heavy hors d’oeuvres, explore hands-on experiences in the Learning Lab, and take in stunning visuals inside the Dorrance DOME. Get inked with science-themed tattoos, sip creative cocktails during a throwback film screening in our giant screen theater, and hit the dance floor with a Mad Scientist DJ or choose your own vibe at the silent disco. Connect, play, and celebrate with the ASTC community; this is a party you don’t want to miss!
Requirements: The Host Party at Arizona Science Center is a paid event; tickets are available for purchase during registration. Attendees and guests must be 21 years of age or older.
Directions: Arizona Science Center is located across the street from the Phoenix Convention Center. An accessibility shuttle is available upon request at the ASTC Onsite Registration counter located in the Convention Center North 300 Level Lobby.
Night Out in Mesa
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Off-site, Arizona Museum of Natural History, 53 N Macdonald, Mesa, AZ 85201
Description: ASTC attendees are invited to explore downtown Mesa, including a special evening open house at the Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZMNH). Guests will have the opportunity to explore museum exhibits while enjoying hosted beverages and hors d’oeuvres in a casual networking setting. The museum is located in the vibrant downtown district of Mesa within walking distance of a variety of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues to enjoy.
Requirements: A Night Out in Mesa is a paid event; tickets are available for purchase during registration. Attendees and guests must be 21 years of age or older.
Directions: Shuttles will depart from the Phoenix Convention Center North Building, near the intersection of Monroe Street and Third Street, from 6:15 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Shuttles will loop between the Phoenix Convention Center and the Arizona Museum of Natural History beginning at 8:15 p.m. with the final shuttle leaving Arizona Museum of Natural History at 10:15 p.m.
Explore our host museum and receive complimentary admission. Review the hours of operation below.
- 10:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday- Wednesday, Friday -Sunday
- 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 17
Review the organization’s website, receive complimentary admission, and hours of operation below.
- 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday
- 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday
Review the organization’s website, receive complimentary admission, and hours of operation below.
- 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday
Review the organization’s website, receive complimentary admission, and hours of operation below.
- 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday
Review the organization’s website, receive complimentary admission, and hours of operation below.
- 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday
- 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Sunday
Review the organization’s website, receive discounted $10 admission, and hours of operation below.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday
Review the organization’s website, receive discounted $10 admission, and hours of operation below.
- 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Wednesday and Friday
- 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Thursday and Saturday
- 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday
Review the organization’s website, receive discounted rates (see below), and hours of operation below.
Conference Discounted Rates:
- Adult: Gate Rate $44.95 | Discounted Rate $37.00
- Child (ages 3–13): Gate Rate $32.95 | Discounted Rate $29.00
To receive the discounted rate, attendees will need to use the QR code on the flyer along with the promotional code provided. This discount will not be offered if they use the promo code on the Phoenix Zoo website.
Flagstaff-area
Review the organization’s website, receive complimentary admission, and hours of operation below.
- 1:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m., Wednesday – Monday (Closed Tuesdays)
Tucson-area
Review the organization’s website, receive complimentary admission, and hours of operation below.
- 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday
- 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., on Thursday
-
Please note that this admission offer is only for the downtown Tucson location, located at 200 S. 6th Avenue.
Review the organization’s website, receive complimentary admission, and hours of operation below.
- 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday
Meet-ups are independently organized and are not hosted or managed by ASTC. For questions or additional information about a specific meet-up, contact the meet-up organizer directly.
Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: North 226 C
Description: Explore how live animal collections can elevate museum programming and visitor engagement. This session brings together leaders from major institutions to share challenges, innovations, and effective strategies for integrating animals into education programming and exhibits while prioritizing welfare, design, and institutional interpretive goals.
Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Off-site, Arizona Wilderness DTPHX Beer Garden, 201 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Description: Join fellow NISE Network members for an informal gathering. Food & drinks will be available for purchase. Plan to be outside under the shade structure. All are welcome, no need to RSVP! Contact NISE Network for additional information.
Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Off-site, Pedal Haus Brewing, 214 E Roosevelt St Suite 4, Phoenix, AZ 8500
Description: The Fleet Science Center is excited to partner with Arizona Science Center to bring “Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar” to the ASTC conference in Phoenix as a program showcase. What sounds like the beginning of a bad joke is a fun community-wide event! During Two Scientists Walk Into a Bar®, local scientists will enjoy something we all do: a good conversation at a local bar. On the first evening of the conference, you can simply walk into the Pedal Haus Brewery, not far from the conference hotel, and explore how scientists can use simple conversations with patrons at a bar, to inspire curiosity and engage adults in science. The Fleet has benefitted from the program for over 10 years and we are excited to share it with other institutions. Contact Fleet Science Center for additional information.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: North Breakout Overlook B, Level 200
Description: Join fellow ASTC attendees interested in advancing professional learning for informal science educators. Share experiences, identify emerging needs, network with peers, and explore opportunities through CAMZIE, Lawrence Hall of Science’s new suite of virtual programs, and ASTC’s Professional Pathways project. Connect, collaborate, and help shape the future of the field.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Networking Area
Description: Connect with peers, share experiences, and build relationships with other Human Resources professionals! This casual gathering offers a chance to exchange ideas, discuss challenges, and expand your professional network.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Gathering Spot
Description: Science centers and museums participating in The Air We Share cohort and youth challenge are invited to join an informal meetup with other partnering museums and members of the ASTC and Sanofi teams.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Connector
Description: Pause the code-switching for the lunch hour! Professional settings often have norms that limit the full diversity of perspective-taking, ways of approaching challenges, and communication styles. Here, you can meet a new friend who may share your experience to navigate conference with. Open to all who hold a marginalized identity.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Location: North 232 AB
Description: Join us to explore how digitized natural history collections can better support authentic science learning. This informal session invites museum professionals to share challenges, identify needs, and consider a collaborative approach-potentially shaping a shared initiative and future funding opportunities.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Networking Area
Description: Run a museum camp . . . or want to? Come trade roses and thorns from the summer, talk shop on curriculum and policy, and meet other camp people who speak your language.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: North Breakout Overlook A, Level 200
Description: Running programs, writing grants, moving tables, and trying to squeeze in evaluation? Join fellow museum professionals to swap practical evaluation strategies and share hard-earned lessons. This informal conversation is sponsored by Measuring Impact, an IMLS-funded project for developing collaborative museum evaluation frameworks.
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Gathering Spot
Description: This meet-up is designed to gather members from the first two cohorts of the Seeding Action with iNaturalist program to build and strengthen relationships as well as create a space to celebrate their successes so far!
Date: Thursday, September 17
Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Connector
Description: If you work in a small/(ish) museum join us for a brief meet and greet with fellow small museum professionals. Whether this is your first or 27th ASTC conference, we can all use a new friend to share experiences, challenges, solutions, and conference tips.
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Gathering Spot
Description: ‘Adult Education’ by Hall & Oates essentially tells its listeners that you’ll have a lot more fun the older and more experienced you are. And they couldn’t be more correct – particularly when it comes to learning about science. Join your peers from the ASTC Adult Programming CoP and meet Matt from Nerd Nite, a nationwide science talk program, for a fun, informal, thoughtful meetup that explores how to attract and engage adults. We can share our different experiences with adult programming. Does your location offer adult beverages? Do you hold after-hours events? Are there instances when kiddos aren’t allowed? Do you engage with local comedians or performers? Do you go off-site? And why is this a need or goal for adult programming for your organization in the first place? ASTC meetups are just like Hall & Oates, they Make My Dreams Come True!
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Connector
Description: ASTC ad-hoc Committee Members are invited to an informal meet-up. Grab lunch from the Exhibit Hall and come connect with your colleagues from across ASTC’s ad-hoc committees!
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Networking Area
Description: Join the Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) and find your community of educators empowering young people to explore community-based issues and lead the changes they want to see in the world. Share effective practices and connect you to the broader CYESS network.
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Gathering Spot
Description: Join colleagues in the Natural History Network and across roles—including collections, community science, curation, education, exhibits, field work, programs, public engagement, and learning research—to make connections, share resources, and collectively strengthen the natural history field.
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Gathering Spot
Description: Grab a snack and join us for a relaxed hour to gather, laugh, network, and continue building relationships that sustain our work and well-being. Whether you’re already a member of the Community of Practice or interested in learning more, all are welcome.
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Exhibit Hall (North C-E) 300 Level – Networking Area
Description: Join an hour-long conversation in the exhibit hall about AI’s role in science centers, both as a public topic and in our daily operations. We’re focusing on the practical, navigational knowledge about AI: what you need to understand to make better decisions about AI’s role in your institution and community.
Date: Friday, September 18
Time: 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: North Breakout Overlook A, Level 200
Description: Looking for hands-on science, storytelling, singing songs, counting, sorting and playing? If you are in the Early Childhood CoP, this is a reunion and if you haven’t joined yet—welcome! Bring an activity to share and be ready to have fun. We will share all activities with the CoP.