Early Career Geoscience Faculty Workshop Program

Note about Workshop Participation

We encourage everyone to participate in as much of the workshop as is possible. Some aspects of the workshop build on others, so missing those parts would make participation less beneficial and in some cases confusing. It will also be difficult for us to repeat information given in those sessions to those who miss them. Finally, for the funding we have from NSF to support workshop participation (up to $850 reimbursement after the workshop), we will need to document participation for participants who are reimbursed. These scholarships may be classified as taxable income, with a 1099-MISC form being issued. We encourage you to talk with your tax advisor to discuss your own situation.

We will take attendance for plenary sessions and if participants miss more than one plenary, we will not be able to provide the reimbursement for those participants. Workshop Participants should click on the Participant Workspace button above to access the workshop schedule and connection info.

Workshop Program

Tentative Workshop program. All times on the program are on Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); please convert the times accordingly for your time zone.
Jump down to: Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

Before the Workshop

Participant Workspace with Session Files
(Limited Access) »

Participants will explore materials related to these sessions, asynchronously, before the workshop.

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Sunday, July 25 (optional)

8:00-8:30PM Strategic Decisions: Elements of a successful career and a satisfying life (live)

We will record this presentation and make it available asynchronously. If you are unable to attend this session please watch the presentation by Monday afternoon at the latest.

8:30-9:30PM Ice breakers

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Monday, July 26

9:30-10:00am Preview and Announcements

10-11:40am Course and Lesson Design (full group) - Anantha Aiyyer and Martin Wong

11:40am-12pm Break

12-1pm Teaching Strategies: Concurrent Sessions I

During concurrent session I, participants will choose a session from the list below:

  • Engaging Students in Large Classes - Julie Baldwin and Ben Laabs

We will discuss the benefits of using interactive activities in a lecture class, as well as several other ways to engage students, such as personal response systems, multimedia clips, in-class demonstrations, course website tools and connecting the topics to students' lives. We will demonstrate some short activities that actively engage a diverse student group and that can easily be incorporated into lecture classes of any size. And we will spend some time brainstorming about ways to incorporate these strategies in your own classroom.

  • Active Learning Exercises in the Classroom - Jennifer Anderson and Josh Galster

We will expand upon the active learning ideas introduced in the previous session on Course and Lesson Design. We will explore the rationale behind using active learning, compare different techniques, and allow participants to design and share their own.

  • Open Educational Resources - Gretchen Miller and Carol Ormand

Open Educational Resources (OERs) for college-level geoscience classes are becoming increasingly abundant and have numerous advantages for students and faculty. OERs include open textbooks, open online classes, instructional videos, and a variety of teaching and learning activities. The Science Education Resource Center (SERC) website hosts a vast array of OERs for geoscience teaching and more. This session discusses the value of OERs in terms of pedagogy, customization, and ease of integration, and provides time to explore how OERs may be used in your own class(es).

  • Student Writing and Learning - Hendratta Ali and Erika McPhee-Shaw

We will share strategies for designing and evaluating student writing assignments to support learning at all levels. Strategies include small-scale, low-stakes writing activities that can be readily incorporated into courses, longer assignments that support learning objectives within the sciences, and the use of online discussion tools.

1-1:30pm Break

1:30-2:30pm Teaching Online (full group) - Josh Galster and Gretchen Miller

2:30-2:45pm Poster Instructions and Daily Roadcheck (full group)

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Tuesday, July 27

9:45-10:00 Preview and Announcements

10-11am Working Effectively with Research Students (full group) - Anantha Aiyyer and Julie Baldwin

11:00-11:15am Break

11:15am-12:15pm Strategies for Research and Scholarship: Concurrent Sessions II

During concurrent session II, participants will choose a session from the list below:

  • Research with Undergraduates - Jennifer Anderson and Martin Wong

In this session, we explore various models for designing undergraduate projects, working with undergraduates, and preserving group data/knowledge in the face of relatively high student turnover; we also discuss strategies for "chunking" projects in portions suitable for undergraduates at various levels of experience.

  • Recruiting Graduate Students - Julie Baldwin and Joan Ramage

How do you recruit the best students AND retain them? The methods used by universities to recruit students have changed dramatically in the last few years. The students you are recruiting are being barraged by information from the universities that they are talking to. Learn how you can effectively recruit these students and work to retain them at your institution.

  • Educational Research on Teaching: Integrating your Research and Teaching - Hendratta Ali and Carol Ormand

Conducting research on the process of learning geoscience can be illuminating and rewarding, leading to improvements in geoscience teaching. This session will present current research on learning and effective teaching practices. It will then examine how to apply that research into your own learning environment.

  • Research with MS and PhD Students - Anantha Aiyyer and Erika Mcphee-Shaw

In this session we will explore everything from brainstorming and mentoring to writing with MS and PhD students. We will discuss addressing both the needs of your research program and the needs, experience, and abilities of your students. Practical aspects such as defining projects that can be done in a reasonable timeframe and funding students will also be discussed.

12:15-12:45pm Break

12:45-1:45pm Connections, Extensions, Opportunities: Concurrent Sessions III

During concurrent session III, participants will choose a session from the list below:

  • Time Management - Gretchen Miller and Martin Wong

We are all faced with competing demands for our attention. This session will discuss some proven strategies to prioritize how you spend your time, focus your attention, and balance your commitments.

  • Bringing Data/Research into the Classroom - Erika McPhee-Shaw and Joan Ramage

This session will focus on approaches to provide students valuable research experience within the context of a formal class, for both introductory and upper-division levels. We will discuss advantages for incorporating research, successful strategies for doing so, and examples of research projects in a variety of classes at all levels.

  • Starting New Research Projects and Building Collaborations - Julie Baldwin and Ben Laabs

You have finished your dissertation or post-doctoral projects and you want to use the resources at your current institution and establish links outside your current institution to grow in new directions. This session will explore ways that you can build upon your existing strengths to move your career forward.

1:45-2pm Break

2-3pm Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom and Beyond (full group) - Hendratta Ali and Gretchen Miller

3pm Daily Roadcheck

3:30-4pm NSF plenary session - welcoming remarks from Lina Patino (NSF Geosciences Directorate)

4:30–5:30pm Recent Alumni Panel (optional)

Panel discussion with recent Early Career Workshop alumni about their experiences and advice. Scheduled to participate: Jeremy Deans (University of Southern Mississippi), Kendra Murray (Idaho State University), Brett Carpenter (University of Oklahoma), Juliana D'Andrilli (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium), Cailey Condit (University of Washington), Mason Stahl (Union College)

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Wednesday, July 28

9:45-10:00 Preview and Announcements

10-11:25am Creating a Strategic Plan (full group) - Josh Galster and Joan Ramage

11:25-11:45am Break

11:45am-1pm Writing Proposals and Getting Funded: Concurrent Sessions IV

  • Writing Your First NSF-Style Proposal - Anantha Aiyyer and Erika McPhee-Shaw

This session will focus on basics and nuts and bolts for your first 'large' proposal (NSF, but also relevant to other agencies).

  • Dealing with Rejections and Revisions - Julie Baldwin and Joan Ramage

Having proposals, journal papers, and other works we've poured our hearts into rejected is unfortunately part of this job. We will discuss and share strategies on how to move forward after a rejection: what can be learned, how to cope, and when maybe to strategically move on.

  • Writing Proposals and Getting Funded at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution - Jennifer Anderson and Martin Wong

Writing research proposals at institutions that primarily serve undergraduates (PUIs) poses a unique set of challenges and opportunities. In this session, we will explore strategies for crafting successful proposals at such institutions.

1:00-1:30 Break

1:30-3:00 Moving Your Research and Teaching Forward: Concurrent Sessions V

Participants will attend one session from the list below, based upon their submission of either a PROPOSAL SUMMARY or TEACHING ACTIVITY:

  • Improving Research Proposals Through Review of Your Proposal Summaries - Martin Wong and others

For this session you need to have submitted a proposal summary by June 17.

  • Improving Teaching Activities and Assignments Through Review of Your Assignment - Hendratta Ali and Gretchen Miller

For this session you need to have submitted a class activity or assignment by June 17. This activity can be one that is still in development stage or one that has been already used in the classroom for which you want feedback.

3:00 Daily Roadcheck

3:30-4:30 Optional Concurrent Sessions - Financial Planning and Alumni Panel

  • Financial Planning for your Future (optional)

This session will focus on the best practices and crucial steps you need to take to build a strong financial foundation. We will discuss the importance of goal setting; getting the most out of your savings both inside and outside of work; maximization of the tax-control triangle; avoiding common investment pitfalls and the significance of 'values' investing.

The session will be led by Geoff Galster, CFP. Geoff, a financial advisor with seventeen years of experience, works with the Alcumus Financial Group in Silver Spring, MD where they focus on holistic financial planning and asset management. https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/team/alcumus-financial-group

  • Recent Alumni Panel (optional)

Panel discussion with recent Early Career Workshop alumni about their experiences and advice. Scheduled to participate: Prajjwal Panday (Nichols College), Emily Beverly (University of Houston), Charles Schutte (Rowan University), Monica Arienzo (Desert Research Institute), Don Viviani (Leeward Community College), Sarah Lalk (Mississippi State University).

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Thursday, July 29

9:45-10:00 Preview and Announcements

10-11:15am Poster Session

11:15-11:30am Break

11:30am-12:00pm Building a Network of Support (full group) - Jennifer Anderson and Josh Galster

12:00-12:30pm Break

12:30-2:45pm Strategic Planning (full group)

2:45-3:00pm Break

3:00-3:45pm Lessons Learned, Concluding Remarks, and Workshop Evaluation (full group) - Josh Galster, Ben Laabs and Martin Wong

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Tuesday and Wednesday, August 3 and 4

Optional Virtual visit to the National Science Foundation