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Biodiversity Career Event



Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
Event Details

Intended Audience: This event is open to all undergraduates and recent grads that are biology curious! We especially encourage applications from members of marginalized groups.
Workshop Location: Smithsonian Museum of Natural History 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20560.
Workshop Dates: This opportunity is two events in one! You can register for one or both as they each highlight different aspects of careers in biodiversity and museum science.
Career Shadowing Day: Friday, April 21, 2023
During this hands-on experience, participants will get the opportunity to shadow a museum professional at the Smithsonian. Find details including information on all the shadowing experiences here.
Career Workshop Day: Saturday, April 22, 2023
On day two participants are invited to a full-day workshop, including a catered lunch and reception, to learn about navigating a pathway to the career you want and includes a catered lunch and reception. This day will also include a workshop for accompanying faculty on incorporating digital natural history collections into undergraduate courses.
Event Application
This opportunity is at no cost to attendees, but travel support/lodging is not included. Deadline to apply was Friday, April 14th. Please reach out to Molly Phillips phillips.map@gmail.com with any questions relating to your application status.
Agenda

Friday Career Shadowing Day, 21 April 2023
11:00 am - 11:50 am Check-in
The registration desk will open at 11am
12:00 pm - 12:20 pm Welcome Message and Workshop Introduction
Speakers: Dr. Anna Monfils (Central Michigan University), Dr. Carla Easter (Smithsonian Museum of Natural History) and Dr. Roland Roberts (NSF)
12:20 pm - 12:55 pm Lunch and Networking Activity
Buffet-style lunch
1:00 pm - 3:30 pm Career Shadowing Activities
Shadowing activities are assigned through answers provided on the application.
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Day One Wrap-up
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Museum Scavenger Hunt/ Independent Exploration Time
Saturday Career Workshop, 22 April 2023
9:00 am - 9:30 am Registration and Networking Time
Light breakfast refreshments will be available.
9:30 am - 10:00 am Welcome, Introduction and Logistics
Speakers: Dr. Anna Monfils (Central Michigan University) and Dr. Carla Easter (Smithsonian Museum of Natural History)
10:00 am - 10:45 am Keynote Presentation I
Speaker: Dr. Tanisha Williams (Bucknell University)
10:45 am - 11:00 am Coffee Break
11:00 am - 11:45 am Keynote Presentation II
Speaker: Dr. Jeanette Pirlo (California State University, Stanislaus)
**For accompanying faculty -- 10:00 am - 11:45 am: Using natural history collections resources in undergraduate courses**
11:45 am - 12:30 pm Lunch and Networking with Museum Professionals
Buffet-style lunch
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Presentation: Opportunities for Education & Research in Biodiversity Science
Speaker: Dr. Roland Roberts (NSF)
1:00 pm - 1:35 pm Presentation: Applying to Graduate School
Speakers: Dr. Anna Monfils (Central Michigan University)
1:35 pm - 2:00 pm Panel: Applying to Graduate School
Panelists: Dr. Haw Chuan Lim (George Mason University) and Dr. Scott Powell (George Washington University)
2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Break
2:15 pm - 3:30 pm Biodiversity Careers Panel
Moderator: Dr. Muriel Poston (Pitzer College)
Panelists: Dr. Harlan Svoboda (Herbarium Curator, U.S. National Arboretum), Ana Chuquin (Botanist, National Park Service), Zoe Davidson (Acting HQ210 Budget Lead, Bureau of Land Management), Dusty Pence (Ecologist, Bureau of Land Management), Nicholas Bezio (Scientific Illustrator and Ph.D. Student, University of Maryland), Dr. Susan M. Tsang (Research Associate, American Museum of Natural History, Philippine National Museum of Natural History), Hannah Connor (Environmental Health Deputy Director and Senior Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity), and Dr. Dara Satterfield (CITES Policy Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm Workshop Reception
Informal networking time to talk to all of our wonderful career professionals over tasty hors d'oeuvres and beverages.
For questions regarding the event, please contact Anna Monfils at monfi1ak@cmich.edu.
The event is in collaboration with the Smithsonian, Central Michigan University, Biodiversity Literacy in Undergraduate Education (BLUE), Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC), American Society of Plant Taxonomists (ASPT), the Society of Herbarium Curators (SHC), the Botanical Society of America (BSA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF; DBI 1746715, DBI 1730526, DEB 2138730).
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under DBI 1730526. Any opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.