Innovation doesn’t happen only in research labs or major cities. It happens every day in classrooms, libraries, farms, tribal communities, hospitals, museums, and small businesses across rural America.
The challenge isn’t a lack of ideas or talent. It’s creating opportunities for the people solving problems to learn from one another, build partnerships, and bring new resources back to their communities.
That’s the purpose behind the 2026 National Rural STEM Learning Summit, coming to Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, on September 3-4.
Now in its fourth year, the Summit has grown into a nationally recognized gathering of educators, administrators, STEM professionals, researchers, nonprofit leaders, industry partners, and community advocates who are passionate about strengthening STEM learning in rural communities. What began in Arizona has evolved into a network that attracts participants from across the country.
Nearly every session is designed to provide attendees with strategies, tools, and resources they can immediately put into practice. From hands-on workshops and collaborative discussions to presentations that connect research with real-world applications, participants leave with ideas they can use in their classrooms, organizations, and communities. The Summit emphasizes collaboration over competition and practical solutions over theory.
Unlike many conferences, the Rural STEM Summit is intentionally practical.
This year’s Summit will feature a special focus on healthcare innovation, reflecting Midwestern University’s leadership in health professions education. Attendees will explore how technology is transforming healthcare, discuss the unique challenges facing rural health systems, and examine innovative approaches that can strengthen access to care in rural communities.
At its heart, the Summit is about empowering local leaders. By connecting educators, community organizations, industry, and researchers, the National Rural STEM Learning Summit helps strengthen the networks that support STEM learning long after the conference ends.
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, informal educator, nonprofit leader, university partner, researcher, or STEM advocate, you’ll find opportunities to learn, collaborate, and leave with practical ideas that can make an immediate impact.
Join us September 3-4 at Midwestern University in Glendale and be part of the growing movement to expand STEM opportunities in rural communities.
Learn more and register through the National Rural STEM Learning Summit website.
