In March of 2026, Daniel Alston, Bertha Hidalgo, and I led a panel during the lunch session of the 2026 International Consortium of Research in Science and Mathematics Education. Below is the description of the session, links to resources mentioned in the session, and the citation and slides for the session.

The success of the team means the success of the individual, but the success of the individual does not necessarily mean the success of the team (paraphrased from Hope for Cynics). Drawing inspiration from Hope for Cynics, this panel explores hope not as blind optimism, but as an intentional, evidence‑informed practice grounded in relationships, struggle, and collective growth. Panelists from mathematics education, science education, and epidemiology will share how hope can be cultivated through data, dialogue, and presence. Through personal examples, the panel highlights how perseverance, autonomy, and belonging can coexist in learning spaces. Aligned with the conference theme, this conversation invites participants to lean into discomfort, celebrate struggle, and view education as a shared effort toward a more just and informed future. Together, we will consider how educators can remain present and purposeful while fostering a sense of community that sustains hope, even amid the challenges we face in our current global climate.

Alston, D., Amidon, J., & Hidalgo, B. A. (March, 2026). Hope is the Hub. Panel at  the International Consortium of Research in Science and Mathematics Education, Virtual.

Links

Amidon Planet E090: Teaching, Technology, & Hope with Andy Weir

Amidon Planet Podcast E016: Teaching Mathematics as Agape with Sam Gilbert

Teachers Empowered to Advance Change in Mathematics Project website