2023 Graduate Women in Science National Conference
Come Together: The Importance of Connection
June 22-24, 2023 | State College, PA
Each June, one GWIS chapter hosts a national conference, drawing members from all over the country to present research, network, and talk about women scientists’ issues. The conference features leadership training, keynote speakers, research poster sessions, career workshops, honorary award presentations, and more! This event is open to GWIS members and non-members, including undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, and faculty of all genders.
Conference Highlights
Workshops to develop and improve scientific outreach
Round table discussions to highlight the different careers within government, academia, industry, and more
Poster sessions and oral presentations to share current research findings
Networking opportunities
Call for Abstracts
Deadline extended to Wednesday, May 31st
We are pleased to invite abstract submissions for a 12-minute quick talk or poster at the Graduate Women in Science National Conference. We welcome abstract submissions, research, or expository from any field. Please note that you must register for the conference by May 31st to present a poster or give a talk. You will be notified by June 1st of acceptance. Don’t hesitate to contact us at statecollege@gwis.org with any questions.
This year’s conference will only allow in-person posters and quick talk presentations. There is no virtual option to present.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
Abstract submission for the 2023 National GWIS Conference will open on April 3rd and close on May 31st. Beginning on April 3rd, please submit your text abstract of 300 words or less. Please include a title, list of authors, and affiliations (not included in the word count). Please do not include any images. The submission form is linked below. Please indicate on that form if you would like to be considered for a poster, talk, or either. Abstracts are due by Monday, May 29th.
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations will be held from 10am -12pm on Saturday, June 24. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to come around, view your poster and interact with you. In addition, your poster will be featured virtually. Finally, there is a chance for an award for the top posters.
Quick Talk Presentation
Submitted abstracts can also be considered for our quick talk presentations (12 minutes long, followed by 3 minutes of questions). There will be an award for the top presentations.
Featured Talks & Speakers
Here is just a highlight of some of the people you can expect to see. Click below to see a full schedule of speakers!
June 23 — 3:00 PM
Caitlin Teti
Director, Eberly College of Science Office of Science Outreach at Penn State
Putting the “Outreach” in Science Outreach and Communication: How to Effectively Communicate Science through Outreach Activities
Are you hoping to share your research with the public in an engaging way, but you’re not sure where to start? Are you wondering how to take your complicated science topics or research and make them accessible for all audiences without “dumbing them down”? Have you never worked with the public before and you’re not sure what to expect? Come learn about what science outreach is, what makes an effective activity or program, and how to craft an engaging and scientifically accurate outreach program from start to finish. We’ll cover topics such as choosing an audience, examples of different outreach options with varying levels of time commitments, how to structure and implement engaging activities, ways to incorporate diversity and accessibility, and more!
June 23 – 4:30 PM and June 24 – 1:30 PM
Rachel Pastan
Author of In the Field
Rachel Pastan is the author of four novels, most recently In the Field. Based on the life of Nobel Prize-winning geneticist Barbara McClintock, the novel was selected for the National Book Foundation’s 2022 Science + Literature award. She has worked as editor-at-large at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia, where she developed the popular art and museum blog Miranda, and as editor of her small-town newspaper. Pastan has taught fiction writing at the Bennington Writing Seminars MFA program, Swarthmore College, and elsewhere. She currently teaches in the MFA program at Drexel University.
June 24 — 4:30 PM
Pamela Harris
Mathematician & Advocate
Dr Harris’s professional mission is to develop learning communities that reinforce students’ self-identity as scientists, in particular for women and underrepresented minorities. In support of this mission, Dr. Harris co-organizes research symposia and professional development sessions for the national conference of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), and served as an editor of the e-Mentoring Network blog of the American Mathematical Society. Moreover, in order to provide visibility to and increase the positive impact of the role models within our community, Dr. Harris co-founded Lathisms.org, a platform that features the contributions of Latinx and Hispanic scholars in the Mathematical Sciences. She cohosts the podcast Mathematically Uncensored and has recently coauthored the books Asked And Answered: Dialogues On Advocating For Students of Color in Mathematics, Practices and Policies: Advocating for Students of Color in Mathematics, and Read and Rectify: Stories from Students of Color in Mathematics
Defining and finding success in STEM
After emigrating to the United States from Mexico at the age of 12, Prof. Pamela E. Harris completed her high school education through PhD in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In this talk, Prof. Harris tells us her life story, taking us through the fears of being an undocumented first-generation college student and the challenges she overcame as a woman of color with a passion for STEM. Her talk will focus on how she found support networks, mentors, the development of her identity as a scientist, and how she arrived at the right definition of being a successful woman of color in STEM.
Funded in part by the Student Initiated Fee and by the Penn State Eberly College of Science with funds from the Russell E. Marker Lecture endowment, established in 1990 by Dr. Russell Marker, and the Science Achievement Graduate Fellows Program
Pricing & Registration
Registration closes Monday, June 5th!
Penn State Student
Includes All days and all meals and activitiesStudent
Includes All days and all meals and activitiesProfessional
Includes All days and all meals and activitiesVirtual
Grand Chapter & National Council Meeting ONLYYour registration includes:
Thursday
Breakfast & Lunch
National Council Meeting
Friday
Breakfast & Lunch
Grand Chapter Meeting
Self-guided tours
Science Outreach Workshop
In the Field discussion with Rachel Pastan
*Professional registration includes dinner. Student registration does not. Dinner can be added during registration*
Saturday
Breakfast, Lunch, Refreshments, & Dinner
Poster session
Lightning talks
Career panel & round table
Science Communication panel
Diverse experiences in STEM lightning talks
Keynote
*Virtual registration ONLY includes National Council Meeting and Grand Chapter Meeting*
GWIS TSHIRT SALE
T-shirt sale closes Monday, June 5th!
GWIS State College chapter is selling t-shirts as a fundraiser! Please note: shirts must be picked up at the conference. Shirts may be pre-ordered and payment is due at time of ordering. A limited amount of t-shirts may be sold at the conference.
Attendee Resources
See the link below for a list of hotels, restaurants, transportation, and attractions in State College, PA.
Resource adapted from the Empower Conference. Empower is GWIS State College’s annual conference. Join us next February! Find more information at: https://empowerpsu.wixsite.com/empower-conference
Our Sponsors
COVID19 Conference Policy and Precautions:
As a professional scientific organization, we take precautions to protect our conference participants against COVID-19 very seriously. Therefore, we strongly recommend that all attendees take the highest precautions to protect themselves and others at the 2023 national conference, including staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters and testing (PCR or rapid antigen test) before the conference. In addition, we will be monitoring the infection rates, potential rise and effects of new variants, and the safety climate up until and throughout the conference very closely and make any changes necessary to keep attendees safe.
