Announcing the First Keynote, New Featured Sessions, Mentor Opportunities, and More for SXSW EDU 2025

Prepare for launch… we are over the moon to announce the first Keynote for SXSW EDU 2025! 

TV host of TheSpaceGal and the 100th woman in space, Emily Calandrelli, will explore the biases and inequities in science television for women in STEM and discuss the importance of representation in the field.

Don’t miss three newly announced Featured Sessions with incredible thought leaders working towards a brighter future in education through the lens of the communities they serve. These voices include Manu Kapur, professor for learning sciences and higher education at ETH Zurich; Kara Bobroff, executive director at One Generation Fund; Nadim Matta, co-founder of nafda Lebanon and RE!NSTITUTE; Rafael Parente, executive director at Instituto Salto; and more.

Plus, we are thrilled to welcome new voices to previously announced Featured Sessions including Natalie Monbiot, founder and futurist at Virtual Human Economy (VHE) to join the session AI & the Future of Education and Sara DeWitt, senior vice president and general manager at PBS KIDS will join the session You Belong in Libraries. Alexandra Brown Chang, author of By Invitation Only and founder of The Zeitgeist; Raegan Revord, actor, author, and producer at SAG-AFTRA, and Rania Zuri, founder and CEO at The LiTEArary Society will join the session Three Innovators Discuss Books, Media & Entrepreneurship. Plus, Jean-Claude Brizard, president and CEO at Digital Promise Global will join the session Essential Skills for Cultivating Healthy Student Achievement.

Furthermore, you can now explore this year’s Mentor Program lineup featuring One-on-One Mentor Sessions and Roundtable Discussions, as well as 56 new sessions and 21 meet ups!

Dive into this exciting announcement of Keynote and Featured Sessions, new programming, mentorship opportunities, and networking events coming your way next March.

Keynote Session

Screening Bias: Breaking Down Barriers for Women in STEM on TV

Why don't we have a female Bill Nye? Because Hollywood actively chooses against it. This talk provides an overview of the inefficiencies that exist in science television for adults and for children, the problems that arise because of it, and potential solutions to breaking these barriers. With STEM industries in a recruitment crisis, representation isn’t just nice—it’s essential for solving future challenges and maintaining a competitive edge globally. A little star power has proven to be an effective inspiration tool. So why aren’t we using it?

Emily Calandrelli, TV Host, TheSpaceGal

Featured Sessions

Learning from Productive Failure

If learning from failure is intuitively compelling, why do we wait for it to happen? Why don’t we intentionally design for it, and harness it for deep learning? In my talk, I will describe what Productive Failure is, how, when and why intentionally designing for failure in a safe way can lead to deep learning, and its implications for how we can design powerful learning environments for developing conceptual understanding, creativity, and transfer. 

Manu Kapur, Professor for Learning Sciences & Higher Education, ETH Zurich, Switzerland

Unleashing Student Agency: Worldwide Evidence & Practice

Propelled by the rise of AI, we are moving from the Age of Achievement to the Age of Agency as Rebecca Winthrop and Jenny Anderson argue in their new book, The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better. Come hear how education leaders from the U.S. to Brazil and India to Lebanon are navigating this transition and what innovations are proving the most impactful. Participants will learn about recent research on student agentic engagement and why it is not a nice to have but an essential piece of supporting equity and serving the most marginalized students.

Nadim Matta, Co-Founder, nafda Lebanon and RE!NSTITUTE
Rafael Parente, Executive Director, Instituto Salto
Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow & Center Director, Center for Universal Education, Brookings
Urvashi Sahni, Founder & CEO, Study Hall Educational Foundation

Indigenous Learning Systems: Language Revitalization & Education

Explore how understanding the history of U.S. boarding schools can inform a future focused on revitalizing Indigenous languages and transforming education for Native youth. This session will share a bold 10-year plan to restore language vitality across the U.S. and introduce elements of Indigenous Learning Ecosystems that empower students and families. Learn actionable strategies for creating culturally responsive education models, supporting holistic student wellness, and building systems rooted in Indigenous values to drive positive change in education.

Kara Bobroff, Executive Director, One Generation Fund

Browse More Announcements

New Sessions

More than 50 new sessions have been added to the 2025 lineup, showcasing conversations on standardized testing, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and more.

Explore 50+ New Sessions

Mentors & Roundtable Discussions

Build connections and receive expert guidance, support, and insights through the SXSW EDU Mentor Program. Meet with mentors in either a one-on-one or group discussion setting.

Explore the initial lineup of more than 70 one-on-one mentors and more than 50 roundtable mentors who can help you tackle career challenges, explore new opportunities, and make strides in your professional journey. Stay tuned for One-on-One Mentor Sessions sign-ups opening in February.

Explore the One-on-one Mentor Lineup Explore the Roundtable Discussions Lineup

Meet Ups

Dive into the initial Meet Up lineup, offering topic-driven networking opportunities tailored to your interests. Explore sessions that spark your passion and connect with like-minded peers.

Explore the Meet Up Lineup

Coffee & Snack Breaks

Stop by the Expo in the morning and afternoon for coffee breaks and afternoon snacks to stay energized.

Coffee Break (Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday)
Snack Break (Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday)

Hikes

Start your morning by exploring some of Austin’s most beautiful trails with a 1.5-mile guided hike through Austin’s Greenbelt with your fellow attendees.

Greenbelt Hike with Explore Austin (Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday)

Walking Tours

Get to know Austin’s history, music, and art culture on one-hour guided walking tours through the historic downtown and East Side.

Austin Music Walking Tour (Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday)
East Side Art Walking Tour (Monday | Wednesday | Thursday)
Downtown Austin Walking Tour (Sunday | Tuesday)

Pop-Up Dinners

Join your peers at a pop-up dinner to grab a bite to eat while making new connections! Don’t worry about saving a seat, we’ve already made the reservation.

Pop-Up Dinner at Corner Restaurant (Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday)
Pop-Up Dinner at Cannon & Belle (Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday)

Socials

Stop by the number of social events happening during the week and meet other attendees while enjoying music, food, drinks, and more.

Early Bird Social (Sunday)
Opening Party presented by Western Governors University (Monday)
Student Impact Challenge Ice Cream Social presented by The Allstate Foundation (Wednesday)
Launch Spotlight presented by Walton Family Foundation (Tuesday)
Beats & BBQ Social (Thursday)

See You at SXSW EDU 2025

Registration is open for SXSW EDU 2025! Book your hotel early for the best rates and hotel options March 3-6, 2025 in downtown Austin.

Sign up for SXSW EDU email updates, check out the News feed, watch videos, and follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, and TikTok to get the most up-to-date information.

 

SXSW EDU 2025 Keynote and Featured Speaker photos provided by the speakers