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.

Note: Any file marked as 'Private' on this page is only accessible to workshop participants (when logged in to their SERC accounts). If you are a workshop participant who is logged in to your SERC account and cannot access the files, please email Monica at mbruckne@carleton.edu for assistance.

Jump down to: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

Before the Workshop

After registering for the workshop, please view the Participant Checklist for logistical information and for important deadlines for sharing additional information prior to the workshop. These include travel information, NSF visit preferences, and contributing either a research proposal or teaching activity for feedback from other workshop attendees.

Sunday, June 23

Before 5 PM - Arrive on campus, check in to dorms - George Draper Dayton Hall

5:00 - 5:30 Welcome and overview - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

5:30-6:30 Catered dinner - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

6:30-8:30 Overview, strategic decisions session, icebreakers, and gallery tour

Monday, June 24

8:45-9:15 Overview - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

9:15-10:45 Plenary: Course Design - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery - Martin Wong and Mea Cook

10:45-11:00 Coffee Break

11:00-12:00 Teaching Strategies: Concurrent Sessions - Olin-Rice Science Center

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

  • Engaging Students in Large Classes

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

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.

  • Student Writing and Learning

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.

  • Open Educational Resources

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). A resource page for this session will be posted.

12:00-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:45 Plenary: Lesson Design - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00-4:00 Teaching Strategies: Concurrent Sessions - Olin-Rice Science Center

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

  • Bringing Data/Research into the Classroom

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

  • Active Learning Exercises in the Classroom

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.

  • Student Writing and Learning

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.

  • Hybrid/Online/Flipped Teaching

We will discuss best practices and share experiences from the last two years and beyond. We will reflect on ways to engage our students in hybrid/online/flipped classrooms and develop strategies to effectively create positive learning environments.

4:00-4:15 Break

4:15-5:00 Poster Instructions, Individual Consultations information, and Daily Roadcheck

Dinner: on your own / self-organized groups

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Tuesday, June 25

8:45-9:00 Overview of the day - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

9:00-10:00 Plenary: Working Effectively with Research Students - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

10:00-10:30 Break

10:30-11:30 Strategies for Research and Scholarship: Concurrent Sessions

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

  • Research with Undergraduates

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

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.

  • Research with Graduate Students

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 time frame and funding students will also be discussed.

  • Preparing Students to be Professional Geoscientists

Many students who major in geoscience do not plan to follow our footsteps into an academic career, so this session will focus on some of the ways we can support students as they prepare for the professional world. We will explore licensure, networking with professional geoscientists, and ensuring that students are learning the skills necessary to join the geoscience workforce.

11:30-1:00 Lunch

1:00-2:00 Strategies for Research and Scholarship: Concurrent Sessions

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

  • Research with Undergraduates

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.

  • Starting New Research Projects and Building Collaborations

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.

  • Research with Graduate Students

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.

  • How to Engage in Healthy Conflict

This session will empower individuals to support a healthy and collegial workplace environment with tools for effective communication and civil resolution of conflict. More resources available at AdvanceGeo Partnership

2:00-2:15 Break

2:15-3:15 Plenary: Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

3:15-3:30 Break

3:30-4:30 Supporting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

  • Implementing DEI from the Classroom to the Institution

This session will follow up on the DEI plenary to provide a forum to discuss how to implement DEI best-practices in a variety of settings and scales. Discussions will focus on DEI in the classroom/curriculum, research groups, field trips/camps, department climate, and within institutions. Additional resources can be found through the Teach the Earth Portal: Broadening Participation in the Geosciences pages.

4:30-4:45 Break

4:45-5:15 Daily Roadcheck - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

5:15-7:00 Individual consultations; work on posters

Dinner: on your own / self-organized groups

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Wednesday, June 26

8:45-9:00 Overview of the day - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

9:00-10:30 Plenary: Creating a Strategic Plan - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

10:30-11:00 Break

11:00-12:00 Writing Proposals and Getting Funded: Concurrent Sessions

  • Writing Your First NSF-Style Proposal at a Research University

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

  • Writing Your First NSF-Style Proposal at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution

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.

  • Dealing with Rejections and Revisions of Proposals

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.

12:00-1:30 Lunch

1:30-4:00 Moving Your Research and Teaching Forward: Concurrent Sessions

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

  • Improving Research Proposals Through Review of Your Proposal Summaries - Kagin Commons, AG Hill Ballroom

For this session you need to have submitted a 1-2 page proposal summary by May 20.

  • Improving Teaching Activities and Assignments Through Review of Your Assignment

For this session you need to have submitted a class activity or assignment by May 20. If you did not submit something in advance, you may

  • Peruse the proposal collection
  • Search for teaching resources online
  • Work on your posters for tomorrow

4:00-4:15 Break

4:15-5:00 Poster Session logistics and NSF Virtual Visit Overview - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

5:00 onward Individual consultations, work on posters

Dinner: on your own / self-organized groups

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Thursday, June 27

8:45-11:40 Poster session - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

If you are willing to share one or both of your posters, either with the world at large or just with this year's workshop participants, please take a photo of your poster(s) and upload it/them

11:40-12:00 Poster session reflection

12:00-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:30 Building a Network of Support (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) PRIVATE FILE 412kB Jun5 23) - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery

2:30-2:45 Break

2:45-4:45 Plenary: Strategic Action Planning - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery - All workshop leaders

4:45-5:15 Plenary: Lessons Learned - Olin-Rice Science Center, Smail Gallery - All workshop leaders

5:30-6:30 Closing Dinner

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Friday, June 28

Checkout of dorms by 9:00 AM, luggage can be stored in a secure room.

Optional virtual visit to the National Science Foundation - classrooms for participation will be available in Olin-Rice