Agenda 2021
Day 1, Thursday, February 11th (all times are in Eastern time)
Conference Welcome
11:30am
11:45am
11:50am
Slideshow presentation with music
Opening Remarks
Welcome Message from University of Florida Chief Diversity Officer, Antonio Farias
Keynote Presentation
12:00pm
My Science Journey
Presenter: Leander Lacy (CEO, Lacy Consulting Services, LLC, Interim Director, Metro Denver Nature Alliance, Podcast Host, The Green Mind)
Presentation: Living my values: “I’m a social conservationist!”
Panel
12:30pm
Diversity of Careers in Biology
Natasza Fontaine (Biology Graduate Student, Florida State University)
Miguel Ordeñana (Community Science Manager and Wildlife Biologist, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County)
Leander Lacy (CEO, Lacy Consulting Services, LLC, Interim Director, Metro Denver Nature Alliance, Podcast Host, The Green Mind)
Conference Break
1:30pm
Stretch your legs!
Workshop (staff only, presenters)
1:45pm
Being a Good Mentor Roundtable
Facilitator: Emma Sells, Office of Academic Support, University of Florida
All staff and student mentors are invited to come for a discussion on student mentoring and share their best practices and lessons learned. This session is an hour long and will end at 2:45pm.
Workshop (pre-collegiate students only)
3:00pm
Applying to College
The presentation will cover an overview and highlights for the University of Florida, Gainesville community and town, how to apply to UF and our application review process, campus involvement and time for questions.
Facilitators: Randy Brown, Assistant Director of Outreach and Recruitment
Office of Admissions, University of Florida
Workshop (collegiate students only)
3:00pm
Applying to Graduate School
Facilitators: Catherine Early, Adania Flemming, Jeanette Pirlo, and Sori Ruiz-Escobar
Conference Break
4:00pm
Longer break!
Day 2, Friday, February 12th
Meet and Greet Reception
7:00pm
Welcome from Dr. Angeleah Browdy and Dr. David Blackburn
Icebreakers and games!
Day 2 Friday, February 12th (all times are in Eastern time)
Day Two Welcome
11:30am
11:45am
11:50am
Slideshow presentation with music
Welcome and announcements
Welcome Message from the Director of the University of Florida McNair Scholars Program, Dr. Samesha Barnes
Keynote Presentation
12:00pm
Research Stories
Speaker: Dr. Emily Choy, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University and Environment and Climate Change Canada
Presentation: Beluga whales as sentinels of environmental change in the Beaufort Sea ecosystem: insights through a community-based monitoring program
Panel
12:30pm
Nicole Cannarozzi (Collection Manager, Environmental Archaeology Florida Museum of Natural History)
Dr. Noé U. de la Sancha (Associate Professor at Chicago State University, and Research Associate at the Field Museum of Natural History)
James T. Brown (PhD student, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida)
Conference Break
1:30pm
Stretch your legs!
Student Research Poster Session
1:45pm
An interactive session to learn from fellow students about research experiences.
Poster presenters: Abdiel Rodriguez, Joseph Holman, Sajina Jacob
Workshop
3:00pm
Getting Involved in Research
Come learn about the McNair Scholars Program and Sparkpath to learn about how you can get involved in research and find your spark!
Facilitators: Dr. Samesha Barnes, Director of the University of Florida McNair Scholars Program and JP Michel from Sparkpath
Conference Break
4:00pm
A longer break!
Reception
7:00pm
Science Stories
Storytellers:
Brittney Dixon, PhD, MPH, CPH, TTS,
Nattapol Kraisitudomsook, Ph.D. student, Plant Pathology Department, University of Florida
Aditi Jayarajan, PhD student, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida
Emcee: Chelsea Collison, Educator, Florida Museum of Natural History
Day 3, Saturday, February 13th (all times are in Eastern time)
Day Three Welcome
11:30am
11:45am
11:50am
Slideshow presentation with music
Welcome and announcements
Welcome Message from the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Affairs, Dr. Angela Lindner
Keynote Presentation
12:00pm
Bringing your Authentic Self
Speaker: Dr. Hazel Levy, Lecturer, Genetics Department, University of Florida
Presentation: History in science matters: But who tells the history
Panel (pre-collegiate students only)
12:30pm
Bringing Your Authentic Self to College
Lauren Esposito (Curator of Arachnology, California Academy of Sciences)
Erica Aguiar (Assistant Director, Machen Florida Opportunity Scholars Program and Office of First Generation Student Success, University of Florida)
Jasmin Graham (MarSci-LACE Project Coordinator, CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences)
Panel (collegiate students only)
12:30pm
Balancing Commitments
Symphany Lindsay (Undergraduate Student, University of Florida)
Keara Clancy (Masters Student, University of Florida Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department)
Alnycea Blackwell (iDigBio Project Assistant, University of Florida)
Conference Break
1:30pm
Stretch your legs!
Workshop (pre-collegiate students only)
1:45pm
Financial Aid 101 (Paying for College)
Facilitators: Amber Moebs and Trellis Williams from University of Florida Student Financial Affairs
Join Ms. Amber Moebs and Ms. Trellis Williams from the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships for their presentation entitled Financial Aid 101. They will break down the financial aid process, from applications to disbursements, in a way that’s easy and enjoyable to understand.
Workshop (collegiate students only)
1:45pm
Funding Options for Graduate School
Facilitators: Erin Rice, University of Florida Graduate Student Affairs.
Closing Session
2:45pm
Conference closing remarks, survey