Keynote Sessions
On Tuesday, June 24th, all PBL World participants will gather to hear from our 2025 keynote speaker.
Take a look through the schedule below for a sneak peek into each mornings' session as it develops, or visit our Schedule page.
The winners of the PBL Champions Awards and the JL Lifelong Learner Award will also be recognized at PBL World 2025.
Tuesday, June 24
8:00 AM-9:00 PM (PST)
PBL World 2025 Keynote Speaker
We are proud to announce that Dr. Christopher Emdin, will be our keynote speaker at PBL World 2025.
Dr. Christopher Emdin is the Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Professor of Science Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and Director of the STEAM DREAM & IdeaLab. He is also the creator of the HipHopEd social media movement, Science Genius B.A.T.T.L.E.S. (Bringing Attention to Transforming, Teaching and Learning Science), a competition where high school students create and perform raps about scientific concepts, and the CREATE Accelerator, an initiative that funds non-profits focused on culture and education.
He is the author of numerous award-winning books, including the “Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation” and the New York Times bestseller, “For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Y’all too.” His books also include “STEM STEAM, Make Dream” and “Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Success.” He is co-editor of the 2024 book “From White Folks who Teach in the Hood: Reflections on Race, Culture and Identity” which includes a contribution from PBLWorks National Faculty member, Jim Bentley.
In addition, Emdin is an alumni fellow at the Hip-hop Archive and Hutchins Center at Harvard University and a former Scholar in Residence at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. He has also served as a STEAM Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State and Minorities in Energy Ambassador for the U.S. Department of Energy.
Wednesday, June 25
8:00 AM-9:00 PM (PST)
PBL World 2025 Student Panel Keynote Session