In-Person Workshops and Special Events
July 26, 2024 Workshops (Morning)
Workshop: How to get a postdoc in Evolution
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cost: 5 USD
Description:
Senior doctoral students deserve the opportunity to make an informed decision on their future in academia, especially those from programs that do not provide adequate mentorship in this area. This includes understanding the common issues for postdocs such as the pressure to move and the associated financial burdens, demanding work hours, and the opportunity costs of continuing in academia, among many others. The self-perceived prospects for post-doctoral researchers are up from a nadir in 2020 but still grim (Nordling, 2023). Current demands on postdocs weed out promising researchers who can’t follow the road to tenure due to poor mentorship or family, health, or financial constraints.
This workshop is focused on supporting advanced doctoral students and recent graduates. It is sponsored by SSE GSAC (Graduate Student Advisory Council) and will focus on how to acquire a postdoctoral position including: identifying research interests, searching for positions, leveraging networks, independent funding, and negotiating with future employers. Based on recommendations from the GSAC committee, we will facilitate these discussions including a moderated formal information session and a panel and Q&A. Speakers will be recruited with diverse career paths and funding to highlight the multitude of opportunities available. To support these efforts and broaden their impacts, we will produce materials covering the topics that will be available virtually to all. Following the workshop, we will survey participants to gauge effectiveness and improve materials for future sessions.
Nordling, L. (2023). Postdoc career optimism rebounds after COVID in global Nature survey. Nature, 622(7982), 419-422.
Cost: 5 USD
Description:
Senior doctoral students deserve the opportunity to make an informed decision on their future in academia, especially those from programs that do not provide adequate mentorship in this area. This includes understanding the common issues for postdocs such as the pressure to move and the associated financial burdens, demanding work hours, and the opportunity costs of continuing in academia, among many others. The self-perceived prospects for post-doctoral researchers are up from a nadir in 2020 but still grim (Nordling, 2023). Current demands on postdocs weed out promising researchers who can’t follow the road to tenure due to poor mentorship or family, health, or financial constraints.
This workshop is focused on supporting advanced doctoral students and recent graduates. It is sponsored by SSE GSAC (Graduate Student Advisory Council) and will focus on how to acquire a postdoctoral position including: identifying research interests, searching for positions, leveraging networks, independent funding, and negotiating with future employers. Based on recommendations from the GSAC committee, we will facilitate these discussions including a moderated formal information session and a panel and Q&A. Speakers will be recruited with diverse career paths and funding to highlight the multitude of opportunities available. To support these efforts and broaden their impacts, we will produce materials covering the topics that will be available virtually to all. Following the workshop, we will survey participants to gauge effectiveness and improve materials for future sessions.
Nordling, L. (2023). Postdoc career optimism rebounds after COVID in global Nature survey. Nature, 622(7982), 419-422.
Workshop: UNDERGRADUATE DIVERSITY AT EVOLUTION (UDE) CAREER DEVELOPMENT
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Cost: Free, but registration is required
Description:
Topics include navigating and networking at the conference and applying to graduate school. This workshop is part of the Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution program and primarily attended by UDE participants, however a few spots are open to any additional undergraduates who wish to participate (there is a cap of 35 attendees total).
Cost: Free, but registration is required
Description:
Topics include navigating and networking at the conference and applying to graduate school. This workshop is part of the Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution program and primarily attended by UDE participants, however a few spots are open to any additional undergraduates who wish to participate (there is a cap of 35 attendees total).
July 26, 2024 Workshops (Afternoon)
WORKSHOP: NSF Proposal Writing
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Cost: 5 USD, pre-registration required
Description:
What makes a good, potentially-fundable grant proposal? In this two-part workshop, attendees will participate in a mock review panel. This is a hands-on workshop, where you will learn how proposals are evaluated and what makes successful ones successful. Participants will be provided with two proposals to review, along with instructions, ahead of the workshop. In the second part of the workshop, NSF Program officers will answer questions about what to do and what to avoid, and comment on common problems with grant proposals. (Limited to Postdocs/30 attendees).
Cost: 5 USD, pre-registration required
Description:
What makes a good, potentially-fundable grant proposal? In this two-part workshop, attendees will participate in a mock review panel. This is a hands-on workshop, where you will learn how proposals are evaluated and what makes successful ones successful. Participants will be provided with two proposals to review, along with instructions, ahead of the workshop. In the second part of the workshop, NSF Program officers will answer questions about what to do and what to avoid, and comment on common problems with grant proposals. (Limited to Postdocs/30 attendees).
Workshop: DIVERSE CAREERS WORKSHOP - Leveraging your phd for careers outside of academia
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: 5 USD, pre-registration required
Description:
This active and participatory workshop will guide graduate students and postdocs in exploring and planning their careers after graduate school or postdoctoral training. Through presentations and small group activities, you will learn about the many potential career avenues open to those trained in evolutionary biology and ecology. You’ll also learn the basics of building a professional network, how to identify the transferable skills you developed during your training, and have the opportunity to ask questions of biology PhDs who hold non-tenure-track jobs. Join us after the workshop for an informal networking event!
Cost: 5 USD, pre-registration required
Description:
This active and participatory workshop will guide graduate students and postdocs in exploring and planning their careers after graduate school or postdoctoral training. Through presentations and small group activities, you will learn about the many potential career avenues open to those trained in evolutionary biology and ecology. You’ll also learn the basics of building a professional network, how to identify the transferable skills you developed during your training, and have the opportunity to ask questions of biology PhDs who hold non-tenure-track jobs. Join us after the workshop for an informal networking event!
Workshop: Navigating scientific publishing - early career focus
1:00 - 5:00 pm
Cost: 10 USD
Organizers: Michael Dawson, Liz Alter, Bryan Carstens, Leticia Ochoa-Ochoa, Amanda Taylor
Description: Current changes in scientific publishing are among the most radical in >350 years and the range of publishing options expanding. Publisher-owned journals often dominate and increasing Article Processing Charges and surging Open Access threaten to leave authors and institutions with few affordable options. These changes particularly penalize early career researchers who are more dependent on high profile – typically more expensive – journals for establishing careers. This in-person workshop will discuss strategies for navigating the increasingly complicated publishing landscape, and for being successful. Activities will seek opportunities for input on these and other options from participating early career researchers about their concerns and how they would like scientific publishing to evolve to better support them in the future.
Open to Students and Post-docs
Cost: 10 USD
Organizers: Michael Dawson, Liz Alter, Bryan Carstens, Leticia Ochoa-Ochoa, Amanda Taylor
Description: Current changes in scientific publishing are among the most radical in >350 years and the range of publishing options expanding. Publisher-owned journals often dominate and increasing Article Processing Charges and surging Open Access threaten to leave authors and institutions with few affordable options. These changes particularly penalize early career researchers who are more dependent on high profile – typically more expensive – journals for establishing careers. This in-person workshop will discuss strategies for navigating the increasingly complicated publishing landscape, and for being successful. Activities will seek opportunities for input on these and other options from participating early career researchers about their concerns and how they would like scientific publishing to evolve to better support them in the future.
Open to Students and Post-docs
GSAC Undergraduate Mentoring Meet Up
Time: 6:30 -7:00 pm
If you signed up to be part of the Undergraduate Mentor Program for the conference, this is the time you're introduced to each other.
Note: You'll receive an organizational email ahead of the conference if matched up to undergraduates as a mentor.
If you signed up to be part of the Undergraduate Mentor Program for the conference, this is the time you're introduced to each other.
Note: You'll receive an organizational email ahead of the conference if matched up to undergraduates as a mentor.
July 26, 2024 Full-Day Workshops
Workshop: SlicerMorph
Time: 9am -12pm & 1pm-5pm (lunch not included)
Cost: 30 USD
Description: SlicerMorph aims to enhance the open-source, and extensible 3D Slicer platform with cutting-edge tools to assist biologists, anthropologists, and morphologists in collecting and analyzing 3D data from biological specimens. SlicerMorph streamlines digital morphology-oriented research by enabling easy data import, visualization, measurement, annotation, and geometric morphometric analysis on 3D data, from both volumetric scans (e.g., CTs and MRs) and 3D surface scans, all within the 3D Slicer application. It provides modules to query and import data from 3D specimen repository MorphoSource, a general-purpose to process imagestacks that allow downsampling ofdata on-the-fly, various tools to directly import data from specific microCT vendors (Bruker, and GE), collect anatomical and semi-landmarks, generate dense point clouds of pseudolandmarks from a 3D template and transfer those new specimens automatically. Additionally, SlicerMorph offers tools that allow researchers to construct and explore morphospaces interactively and import SlicerMorph results into R to conduct domain-specific inferential statistics on landmark coordinates. Our ultimate goal is to foster a collaborative community within the 3D Slicer ecosystem to facilitate seamless data exchange and promote the advancement of open science for natural history.
The full day workshop covers all aspects of digital morphology workflow from data import to visualization to segmentation to 3D model generation, morphometric data collection and GPA analysis and getting data into R for statistical inference.
In the first half of the workshop participants will learn basics of processing 3D digital morphology data with 3D Slicer and SlicerMorph, data management strategies, computing environment requirements and receive hands-on demonstration of how to use NSF funded public cloud resources to process large datasets. We will also cover demonstrations of available deep-learning frameworks within 3D Slicer to develop ML models of custom segmentation tasks.
The second half of the workshop is focused on collecting, processing and visualizing geometric morphometric data within SlicerMorph and how to import them into R/geomorph package for further statistical inference. We will also discuss other non-landmark based statistical shape analysis techniques with Slicer ecosystem and compare approaches. Both sessions are continuous in nature, so participants are expected to attend both. Participants will learn how to self-support themselves after the workshop to further their knowledge and seek guidance and help from the community.
We welcome everyone, but the contents are particularly useful for graduate students and early-career scientists who are interested in incorporating ever-increasing amounts of publicly available 3D specimen data into their research and teaching programs. It is also useful for researchers who are already familiar with 3D morphometrics and digital morphology but looking for an open-source alternative.
If you are a graduate student or a post-doc who qualifies as a URM in STEM fields, please reach out to Dr. Murat Maga ([email protected]) for a waiver.
Cost: 30 USD
Description: SlicerMorph aims to enhance the open-source, and extensible 3D Slicer platform with cutting-edge tools to assist biologists, anthropologists, and morphologists in collecting and analyzing 3D data from biological specimens. SlicerMorph streamlines digital morphology-oriented research by enabling easy data import, visualization, measurement, annotation, and geometric morphometric analysis on 3D data, from both volumetric scans (e.g., CTs and MRs) and 3D surface scans, all within the 3D Slicer application. It provides modules to query and import data from 3D specimen repository MorphoSource, a general-purpose to process imagestacks that allow downsampling ofdata on-the-fly, various tools to directly import data from specific microCT vendors (Bruker, and GE), collect anatomical and semi-landmarks, generate dense point clouds of pseudolandmarks from a 3D template and transfer those new specimens automatically. Additionally, SlicerMorph offers tools that allow researchers to construct and explore morphospaces interactively and import SlicerMorph results into R to conduct domain-specific inferential statistics on landmark coordinates. Our ultimate goal is to foster a collaborative community within the 3D Slicer ecosystem to facilitate seamless data exchange and promote the advancement of open science for natural history.
The full day workshop covers all aspects of digital morphology workflow from data import to visualization to segmentation to 3D model generation, morphometric data collection and GPA analysis and getting data into R for statistical inference.
In the first half of the workshop participants will learn basics of processing 3D digital morphology data with 3D Slicer and SlicerMorph, data management strategies, computing environment requirements and receive hands-on demonstration of how to use NSF funded public cloud resources to process large datasets. We will also cover demonstrations of available deep-learning frameworks within 3D Slicer to develop ML models of custom segmentation tasks.
The second half of the workshop is focused on collecting, processing and visualizing geometric morphometric data within SlicerMorph and how to import them into R/geomorph package for further statistical inference. We will also discuss other non-landmark based statistical shape analysis techniques with Slicer ecosystem and compare approaches. Both sessions are continuous in nature, so participants are expected to attend both. Participants will learn how to self-support themselves after the workshop to further their knowledge and seek guidance and help from the community.
We welcome everyone, but the contents are particularly useful for graduate students and early-career scientists who are interested in incorporating ever-increasing amounts of publicly available 3D specimen data into their research and teaching programs. It is also useful for researchers who are already familiar with 3D morphometrics and digital morphology but looking for an open-source alternative.
If you are a graduate student or a post-doc who qualifies as a URM in STEM fields, please reach out to Dr. Murat Maga ([email protected]) for a waiver.
July 27, 2024 Workshops & Special Events
Workshop: EMBO Press - Publishing
12:45 - 1:45 pm
Cost: None/Free
Target audience: PhD students, postdocs and PIs
Capacity Limit: 30 People (sign up during registration)
Description:
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The major goals of the organization are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work. As evolution is the key process that explains and connects all disciplines in biology it is at the heart of EMBO's core mission and interests.
EMBO Press is the publishing arm of EMBO, responsible for five peer-review journals covering different areas of Molecular Biology. It was recently decided at the organization level to put more emphasis on molecular ecology and evolution and promote these fields both at the research and publication levels.
The goal of this 1 hour workshop is to tell attendees about EMBO and especially EMBO Press, its journals and their uniqueness and points of strength that might appeal to authors in the field of Evolutionary Biology. We encourage open discussion and will also provide attendees with the chance to voice their opinions, suggestions and expectations regarding scientific peer-review publication in general and EMBO Press in particular.
Cost: None/Free
Target audience: PhD students, postdocs and PIs
Capacity Limit: 30 People (sign up during registration)
Description:
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The major goals of the organization are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work. As evolution is the key process that explains and connects all disciplines in biology it is at the heart of EMBO's core mission and interests.
EMBO Press is the publishing arm of EMBO, responsible for five peer-review journals covering different areas of Molecular Biology. It was recently decided at the organization level to put more emphasis on molecular ecology and evolution and promote these fields both at the research and publication levels.
The goal of this 1 hour workshop is to tell attendees about EMBO and especially EMBO Press, its journals and their uniqueness and points of strength that might appeal to authors in the field of Evolutionary Biology. We encourage open discussion and will also provide attendees with the chance to voice their opinions, suggestions and expectations regarding scientific peer-review publication in general and EMBO Press in particular.
Society member meetings/forums
Open to all members of the respective societies.
Lunch is not provided (you can bring your own).
Preregistration not required.
Lunch is not provided (you can bring your own).
Preregistration not required.
- SSE Members Open Forum - July 27, 2024 (1:30 - 2:25 pm)
- ASN Members Open Forum - July 27, 2024 (1:30 - 2:25 pm)
- SSB Members Open Forum - July 27, 2024 (1:30 - 2:25 pm)
Workshop: NSF/BIO/DEB
Time: 12:45 - 2:15 pm
Cost: Free
Description:
The National Science Foundation funds basic research in evolutionary biology and systematics, training of the next generation of evolutionary biologists, and broader impacts extending the reach of evolutionary research to benefit society. However, newer (and even experienced) scientists can find NSF’s numerous programs, detailed guidance, and merit review process to be a difficult landscape to navigate. In this informational session NSF program officers will discuss new and ongoing programs and the merit review process (including Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts), followed by an open-ended question and answer session. Participants who wish to meet briefly individually with an NSF Program Officer may be able to do so following the discussion.
(Registration not-required. Lunch not provided.)
Cost: Free
Description:
The National Science Foundation funds basic research in evolutionary biology and systematics, training of the next generation of evolutionary biologists, and broader impacts extending the reach of evolutionary research to benefit society. However, newer (and even experienced) scientists can find NSF’s numerous programs, detailed guidance, and merit review process to be a difficult landscape to navigate. In this informational session NSF program officers will discuss new and ongoing programs and the merit review process (including Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts), followed by an open-ended question and answer session. Participants who wish to meet briefly individually with an NSF Program Officer may be able to do so following the discussion.
(Registration not-required. Lunch not provided.)
Networking Break Groups (AM & PM)
AM Coffee Break: Flying solo coffee social
PM Coffee Break: LGBTQ+ Networking Coffee
Break out smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
PM Coffee Break: LGBTQ+ Networking Coffee
Break out smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
July 28, 2024 Workshops & Special Events
Workshop: NSF Big IDeas
12:45 - 2:15 pm
Cost: Free
Description:
Discussion with NSF Program Officers
Come to an informal discussion session with NSF Program Officers. We are interested in hearing your ideas about the big questions and leading edges in evolutionary biology. Tell us about where evolutionary biology will and should be going in the next five years. This is your chance to tell us what you think.
(Preregistration not required. Lunch not provided.)
Cost: Free
Description:
Discussion with NSF Program Officers
Come to an informal discussion session with NSF Program Officers. We are interested in hearing your ideas about the big questions and leading edges in evolutionary biology. Tell us about where evolutionary biology will and should be going in the next five years. This is your chance to tell us what you think.
(Preregistration not required. Lunch not provided.)
ASN Grad Mixer
12:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Cost: None
Open to graduate students, post-docs & faculty members of the American Society of Naturalists only
Description:
The ASN Graduate Council is hosting a student-post-doc-faculty lunchtime mixer for members of the American Society of Naturalists. The goal of this mixer is to create a venue for academic discussion, particularly between graduate students, postdocs, and senior researchers.
(Preregistration appreciated but not required. Refreshments will be served.)
Cost: None
Open to graduate students, post-docs & faculty members of the American Society of Naturalists only
Description:
The ASN Graduate Council is hosting a student-post-doc-faculty lunchtime mixer for members of the American Society of Naturalists. The goal of this mixer is to create a venue for academic discussion, particularly between graduate students, postdocs, and senior researchers.
(Preregistration appreciated but not required. Refreshments will be served.)
Networking Break Groups (AM & PM)
AM Coffee Break: Asians in Evolution Mixer
PM Coffee Break: Latines in Evolution Mixer
Breakout smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
PM Coffee Break: Latines in Evolution Mixer
Breakout smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
PostDOc Networking Lunch
Time: Lunchtime (12:30 - 2:30 PM)
Location: various offsite lunch venues
Cost: Free (but you're expected to buy your own lunch)
Open to all postdocs; Pre-registration required (sign up during registration)
Description:
The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council organizes small group networking lunches to facilitate interactions among post-docs. Signup is required during conference registration, and a survey will be sent out in advance of the conference to set up groups. Groups are responsible for finding their own lunch venues.
Location: various offsite lunch venues
Cost: Free (but you're expected to buy your own lunch)
Open to all postdocs; Pre-registration required (sign up during registration)
Description:
The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council organizes small group networking lunches to facilitate interactions among post-docs. Signup is required during conference registration, and a survey will be sent out in advance of the conference to set up groups. Groups are responsible for finding their own lunch venues.
STORY COLLIDER
Date: July 28, 2024
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: Free
Description:
The 2024 ASN/SSB/SSE/ESEB Evolution meetings is partnering with The Story Collider, a nonprofit that is dedicated to sharing true, personal stories about science. Story Collider works with storytellers from both inside and outside science to develop these stories and share them through their weekly podcast and live shows around the world. Since 2010, The Story Collider has produced 200+ shows and published 350+ episodes which now averages 130,000 monthly listens and has been download over nine million times! In 2022 The Story Collider won the two Anthem Awards for fostering diversity and inclusion in science through the art of personal storytelling. At the upcoming Evolution Meeting, we will host "Stories from Outside the Distribution," featuring personal accounts from a diverse group of evolutionary biologists.
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: Free
Description:
The 2024 ASN/SSB/SSE/ESEB Evolution meetings is partnering with The Story Collider, a nonprofit that is dedicated to sharing true, personal stories about science. Story Collider works with storytellers from both inside and outside science to develop these stories and share them through their weekly podcast and live shows around the world. Since 2010, The Story Collider has produced 200+ shows and published 350+ episodes which now averages 130,000 monthly listens and has been download over nine million times! In 2022 The Story Collider won the two Anthem Awards for fostering diversity and inclusion in science through the art of personal storytelling. At the upcoming Evolution Meeting, we will host "Stories from Outside the Distribution," featuring personal accounts from a diverse group of evolutionary biologists.
July 29, 2024 Workshops & Special Events
Workshop: Professional (R)evolution: Quest to integrate your personal and professional goals
12:40 - 2:15 pm
Cost: 30 USD (includes lunch)
Description:
We often enter science with innate curiosity and an adventurous spirit. But academia can drain our intrinsic motivation and make us feel like we are living by someone else’s rules. This workshop will help you integrate your personal and professional goals and give you new tools for your quest. Bree Rosenblum (Professor at UC Berkeley) will share strategies developed over the last 20+ years for putting yourself back in the center of your story. Open to all career stages.
About Bree: I am a Professor and Distinguished Chair for Innovative Teaching and Research at UC Berkeley. I’ve been active in the Evolution community my entire career (first Evolution Meetings in 1995). Over the last 10 years, I’ve increasingly channeled my energy into transforming higher education and have held leadership roles focused on promoting institutional and cultural change in academia. I weave together many modalities in my facilitation work and enjoy providing holistic support to our community to increase professional fulfillment and sense of belonging.
Cost: 30 USD (includes lunch)
Description:
We often enter science with innate curiosity and an adventurous spirit. But academia can drain our intrinsic motivation and make us feel like we are living by someone else’s rules. This workshop will help you integrate your personal and professional goals and give you new tools for your quest. Bree Rosenblum (Professor at UC Berkeley) will share strategies developed over the last 20+ years for putting yourself back in the center of your story. Open to all career stages.
About Bree: I am a Professor and Distinguished Chair for Innovative Teaching and Research at UC Berkeley. I’ve been active in the Evolution community my entire career (first Evolution Meetings in 1995). Over the last 10 years, I’ve increasingly channeled my energy into transforming higher education and have held leadership roles focused on promoting institutional and cultural change in academia. I weave together many modalities in my facilitation work and enjoy providing holistic support to our community to increase professional fulfillment and sense of belonging.
WORKSHOP: INCREASING YOUR PUBLISHING SUCCESS IN SOCIETY JOURNALS
1:00 pm - 2:15 pm
Cost: None/Free
Organizers: Nicola Cook, Helen Eaton, Shalene Singh-Shepherd
Description: Learn more about the publishing process. This session will include aspects such as how to select a journal, how to maximize your chances of acceptance of your paper, publishing ethics, peer review systems, open science, promoting your research, and the benefits of publishing in Society journals. This session is aimed at early career researchers but we also welcome more experienced authors and reviewers. This session will be run by Nicola Cook from ESEB and Helen Eaton and Shalene Singh-Shepherd from The Royal Society journals team. We will be happy to answer questions about any aspect of the publishing process.
Cost: None/Free
Organizers: Nicola Cook, Helen Eaton, Shalene Singh-Shepherd
Description: Learn more about the publishing process. This session will include aspects such as how to select a journal, how to maximize your chances of acceptance of your paper, publishing ethics, peer review systems, open science, promoting your research, and the benefits of publishing in Society journals. This session is aimed at early career researchers but we also welcome more experienced authors and reviewers. This session will be run by Nicola Cook from ESEB and Helen Eaton and Shalene Singh-Shepherd from The Royal Society journals team. We will be happy to answer questions about any aspect of the publishing process.
Networking Break Groups (AM & PM)
AM Coffee Break: Evolutionary Biologists with Disabilities Networking
PM Coffee Break: John Edmonstone Coffee Social for BIPOC
Breakout smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
PM Coffee Break: John Edmonstone Coffee Social for BIPOC
Breakout smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
Faculty/Student Networking Lunch
Location: various offsite lunch venues.
Cost: Free (but you're expected to buy your own lunch)
Pre-registration required - sign up as part of registration.
Description: The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council is organizing small group networking lunches to facilitate interactions between graduate students and faculty. Indicate your interest during conference registration, and we will send out surveys to match students with faculty closer to the conference date. Groups will be responsible for finding their own lunch venues.
This event is open to both members and non-members.
Cost: Free (but you're expected to buy your own lunch)
Pre-registration required - sign up as part of registration.
Description: The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council is organizing small group networking lunches to facilitate interactions between graduate students and faculty. Indicate your interest during conference registration, and we will send out surveys to match students with faculty closer to the conference date. Groups will be responsible for finding their own lunch venues.
This event is open to both members and non-members.
July 30, 2024 Workshops & Special Events
Workshop: Public Policy Panel Discussion
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Cost: Free
Description:
Interested in getting involved in science policy but not sure how to get started? Curious about whether a career in science policy might be the right fit, but wondering how to learn more? In this workshop and discussion, we will hear from local policy makers about how the scientific community can most effectively interact with policy makers, and discuss pathways into careers in science policy. This event will equip you with the tools you need to begin engaging with key decision makers in your community.
(Preregistration not required. Lunch not provided)
Cost: Free
Description:
Interested in getting involved in science policy but not sure how to get started? Curious about whether a career in science policy might be the right fit, but wondering how to learn more? In this workshop and discussion, we will hear from local policy makers about how the scientific community can most effectively interact with policy makers, and discuss pathways into careers in science policy. This event will equip you with the tools you need to begin engaging with key decision makers in your community.
(Preregistration not required. Lunch not provided)
Networking Break Groups (AM & PM)
AM Coffee Break: PUI (Primarily Undergraduate Institutions) Mixer
PM Coffee Break 1: Field Work Mixer
Breakout smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
PM Coffee Break 1: Field Work Mixer
Breakout smaller group networking opportunities, during regular break times, but in a different space.
(Preregistration not required. Coffee/Tea/Snacks included.)
Editorial Meetings, Council Meetings & Member Forums
council & Committee meetings
Society Councils
Open to council members only.
Joint Council (ASN/SSB/SSE)
Open to Joint council members only.
Open to council members only.
- ASN entrance meeting - July 26, 2024 (1:00 - 5:00 pm)
- ASN exit meeting - July 30, 2024 (12:35 pm - 2:25 pm)
- SSB entrance meeting - July 26, 2024 (1:00 - 5:00 pm)
- SSB exit meeting - July 30, 2024 (12:35 pm - 2:25 pm)
- SSE entrance meeting - July 26, 2024 (1:00 - 5:00 pm)
- SSE exit meeting - July 30, 2024 (12:35 pm - 2:25 pm)
Joint Council (ASN/SSB/SSE)
Open to Joint council members only.
- Entrance meeting - July 26, 2024 (8:30 am - 1:00 pm)
- Exit meeting - July 29, 2024 (12:30 pm - 2:25 pm)
editorial board meetings
Evolution Letters - July 27, 2024 (12:30 - 1:30 pm)
Systematic Biology - July 27, 2024 (12:30 - 1:30 pm)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology - July 28, 2024 (12:30 - 2:15 pm)
Evolution - July 28, 2024 (12:30 - 1:30 pm)
Systematic Biology - July 27, 2024 (12:30 - 1:30 pm)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology - July 28, 2024 (12:30 - 2:15 pm)
Evolution - July 28, 2024 (12:30 - 1:30 pm)
Society Member Meetings/Forums
Open to all members of the respective societies.
Lunch is not provided (you can bring your own).
Preregistration not required.
Lunch is not provided (you can bring your own).
Preregistration not required.
- SSE Members Open Forum - July 27, 2024 (1:30 - 2:25 pm)
- ASN Members Open Forum - July 27, 2024 (1:30 - 2:25 pm)
- SSB Members Open Forum - July 27, 2024 (1:30 - 2:25 pm)
Virtual Workshops and Special Events (June 26-28)
Workshops for the Virtual Conference are free for both registered in-person and virtual attendees unless otherwise noted. Please note that some have capacity limits and are first-come, first-filled. An email to attendees with sign up links was sent May 23rd for the limited workshops.
WORKSHOP: PREPARING YOUR PAPER FOR PUBLICATION IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS
Date: June 26, 2024
Time: 12:30 - 1:45 pm Eastern Daylight Time
Description: This workshop is designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to prepare papers for publication in scientific journals. The workshop is led by editors of the journals Genome and Canadian Journal of Zoology, and will discuss examples from these journals, but principles covered are transferable to similar journals.
Upon completion of the workshop, attendees will achieve the following objectives:
Time: 12:30 - 1:45 pm Eastern Daylight Time
Description: This workshop is designed to equip participants with the necessary skills to prepare papers for publication in scientific journals. The workshop is led by editors of the journals Genome and Canadian Journal of Zoology, and will discuss examples from these journals, but principles covered are transferable to similar journals.
Upon completion of the workshop, attendees will achieve the following objectives:
- Understand the key criteria the Editors of typical health-science journals seek in successful journal articles.
- Gain insights into the peer review process and how editorial decisions are made.
- Learn best practices and pitfalls to avoid when preparing submissions for submission.
- Explore the concept of Open Access and its potential impact on the visibility of your research.
- Learn about some of the hidden services journals can provide for authors, including factors that journals may not explicitly advertise but can be crucial in helping you select the right journal to publish with.
- What the difference is between not-for-profit publishers vs. commercial publishers.
Workshop: Navigating Scientific Publishing – Global Edition
Date: June 26, 2024
Time: Offered at 11 am and 9 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) - 3-4 hours length
Cost: Free
Organizers: Michael Dawson, Bryan Carstens, Liz Alter, Leticia Ochoa-Ochoa, Amanda Taylor
Description: Current changes in scientific publishing are among the most radical in >350 years and the range of publishing options expanding. Publisher-owned journals often dominate and increasing Article Processing Charges and surging Open Access threaten to leave authors and institutions with few affordable options. These changes increase inequity – among more- versus less-wealthy researchers, institutions, and countries. This virtual workshop will discuss strategies for navigating the increasingly complicated publishing landscape, and for being successful. Activities will seek opportunities for input on these and other options from (particularly international) participants about their concerns and how they would like scientific publishing to evolve to better support them in the future.
Time: Offered at 11 am and 9 pm (Eastern Daylight Time) - 3-4 hours length
Cost: Free
Organizers: Michael Dawson, Bryan Carstens, Liz Alter, Leticia Ochoa-Ochoa, Amanda Taylor
Description: Current changes in scientific publishing are among the most radical in >350 years and the range of publishing options expanding. Publisher-owned journals often dominate and increasing Article Processing Charges and surging Open Access threaten to leave authors and institutions with few affordable options. These changes increase inequity – among more- versus less-wealthy researchers, institutions, and countries. This virtual workshop will discuss strategies for navigating the increasingly complicated publishing landscape, and for being successful. Activities will seek opportunities for input on these and other options from (particularly international) participants about their concerns and how they would like scientific publishing to evolve to better support them in the future.
Workshop: MorphoBank
Date: June 26, 2024
Time: 2 pm - 5 pm (Eastern Daylight Time)
Cost: Free
Capacity: 30 people
Summary
MorphoBank is an open access, open science online resource for evolutionary research and phylogenetic studies that hosts peer reviewed scientific data in the form of over 1,000 morphological character matrices and over 150,000 scientific images. MorphoBank has been serving the research community for over 20 years as a platform where scientists around the globe can collaborate together to build, publish, curate and permanently host morphological phylogenetic matrices.
This workshop will introduce up to 30 participants to the data repository and collaborative work environment of MorphoBank. During the first half of this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to create a new project by adding a matrix or uploading images. In the second half, participants will choose (or will be assigned) published datasets to curate or create projects from their own unpublished data for future use. The second half of the workshop is optional, but participants are encouraged to stay the full 3 hours so that MorphoBank staff can provide guidance, troubleshooting, and answer questions.
Schedule (3 hours)
Attendees will need a computer and access to an internet connection for both Zoom and to access MorphoBank. Sign up will open in May via an email link sent to attendees.
Time: 2 pm - 5 pm (Eastern Daylight Time)
Cost: Free
Capacity: 30 people
Summary
MorphoBank is an open access, open science online resource for evolutionary research and phylogenetic studies that hosts peer reviewed scientific data in the form of over 1,000 morphological character matrices and over 150,000 scientific images. MorphoBank has been serving the research community for over 20 years as a platform where scientists around the globe can collaborate together to build, publish, curate and permanently host morphological phylogenetic matrices.
This workshop will introduce up to 30 participants to the data repository and collaborative work environment of MorphoBank. During the first half of this 3-hour workshop, participants will learn how to create a new project by adding a matrix or uploading images. In the second half, participants will choose (or will be assigned) published datasets to curate or create projects from their own unpublished data for future use. The second half of the workshop is optional, but participants are encouraged to stay the full 3 hours so that MorphoBank staff can provide guidance, troubleshooting, and answer questions.
Schedule (3 hours)
- Introduction ... 10 min
- MorphoBank Overview ... 30 min
- Searching for and exploring a Project ... 10 min
- Break ... 10 min
- Creating a new project by uploading media or a matrix ... 30 min
- Independent Curation Practice ... 90 min
Attendees will need a computer and access to an internet connection for both Zoom and to access MorphoBank. Sign up will open in May via an email link sent to attendees.
Workshop: EMBO Press - Publishing workshop
Length of time: 1 hour
Date: June 27, 2024 (Lunchtime: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time)
Cost for participants: none.
Target audience: PhD students, postdocs and PIs.
Capacity limit: 50 people.
Description:
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The major goals of the organization are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work. As evolution is the key process that explains and connects all disciplines in biology it is at the heart of EMBO's core mission and interests.
EMBO Press is the publishing arm of EMBO, responsible for five peer-review journals covering different areas of Molecular Biology. It was recently decided at the organization level to put more emphasis on molecular ecology and evolution and promote these fields both at the research and publication levels.
The goal of this 1 hour workshop is to tell attendees about EMBO and especially EMBO Press, its journals and their uniqueness and points of strength that might appeal to authors in the field of Evolutionary Biology. We encourage open discussion and will also provide attendees with the chance to voice their opinions, suggestions and expectations regarding scientific peer-review publication in general and EMBO Press in particular.
Date: June 27, 2024 (Lunchtime: 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time)
Cost for participants: none.
Target audience: PhD students, postdocs and PIs.
Capacity limit: 50 people.
Description:
The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The major goals of the organization are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work. As evolution is the key process that explains and connects all disciplines in biology it is at the heart of EMBO's core mission and interests.
EMBO Press is the publishing arm of EMBO, responsible for five peer-review journals covering different areas of Molecular Biology. It was recently decided at the organization level to put more emphasis on molecular ecology and evolution and promote these fields both at the research and publication levels.
The goal of this 1 hour workshop is to tell attendees about EMBO and especially EMBO Press, its journals and their uniqueness and points of strength that might appeal to authors in the field of Evolutionary Biology. We encourage open discussion and will also provide attendees with the chance to voice their opinions, suggestions and expectations regarding scientific peer-review publication in general and EMBO Press in particular.
Virtual SSE Postdoc Networking Lunch
Date: Friday, June 28, 2024
Time: Lunchbreak (12:30 - 1:30 PM, Eastern Daylight Time)
Location: Zoom Live Session
Cost: Free
Open to all postdocs; Pre-registration required (sign up here)
Description: The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council organizes small group (4 - 6 Postdocs) networking lunches to facilitate interactions among post-docs. Signup is required using a link sent by email in May, Deadline: June 6th 11:59 pm, Eastern Daylight Time. Postdocs will have an option to be paired with others with similar research interests.
Time: Lunchbreak (12:30 - 1:30 PM, Eastern Daylight Time)
Location: Zoom Live Session
Cost: Free
Open to all postdocs; Pre-registration required (sign up here)
Description: The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council organizes small group (4 - 6 Postdocs) networking lunches to facilitate interactions among post-docs. Signup is required using a link sent by email in May, Deadline: June 6th 11:59 pm, Eastern Daylight Time. Postdocs will have an option to be paired with others with similar research interests.
Virtual SSE Student Faculty Networking Lunch
Date: Decided based on your own preferences
Time: Decided based on your own preferences
Location: Decided based on your own preferences
Cost: Free
Open to all graduate students and faculty; Pre-registration required (sign up here).
Description: The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council is organizing small group networking lunches to facilitate interactions between graduate students and faculty. Signup is required, by June 6th 11:59 pm, Eastern Daylight Time. During the signup, faculty and students will have options to indicate preferences to be paired with students/faculty with 1) similar research interests, 2) discussion topics, and 3) local time zones. 1-2 faculty and 4-6 graduate students will be paired primarily based on these indicated preferences. Paired group members will be notified by email, and you will have the freedom to organize virtual online networking events based on your own availability.
Time: Decided based on your own preferences
Location: Decided based on your own preferences
Cost: Free
Open to all graduate students and faculty; Pre-registration required (sign up here).
Description: The SSE Graduate Student Advisory Council is organizing small group networking lunches to facilitate interactions between graduate students and faculty. Signup is required, by June 6th 11:59 pm, Eastern Daylight Time. During the signup, faculty and students will have options to indicate preferences to be paired with students/faculty with 1) similar research interests, 2) discussion topics, and 3) local time zones. 1-2 faculty and 4-6 graduate students will be paired primarily based on these indicated preferences. Paired group members will be notified by email, and you will have the freedom to organize virtual online networking events based on your own availability.
Workshop: Career Exploration
Date: Thursday, June 27, 2024
Time: Lunchbreak (12:30 - 1:30 PM, Eastern Daylight Time)
Location: Zoom Live Session
Cost: Free
Open to all attendees. Pre-registration NOT required.
Organizer: Jennifer Spillane
If you think you might be interested in a career outside of academia, but aren’t entirely sure where to start, join us! In this participatory workshop, we’ll be exploring the huge variety of careers open to you after graduate school and help you narrow down your career options so that you can be sure they reflect your interests, skills, and values.
Time: Lunchbreak (12:30 - 1:30 PM, Eastern Daylight Time)
Location: Zoom Live Session
Cost: Free
Open to all attendees. Pre-registration NOT required.
Organizer: Jennifer Spillane
If you think you might be interested in a career outside of academia, but aren’t entirely sure where to start, join us! In this participatory workshop, we’ll be exploring the huge variety of careers open to you after graduate school and help you narrow down your career options so that you can be sure they reflect your interests, skills, and values.
Special Event/Workshop: Multilevel Selection Theory
Date: June 26, 2024
Time: 10:50 am - 3:30 pm EDT
Description: Natural selection theory is inarguably the most important theory in biology due to its ability to explain adaptations across domains. Yet it is a surprising fact that for the majority of evolutionary research, natural selection dynamics were largely reduced to lower levels of biological organization, that sought to explain adaptation only at the levels of the individual or selfish genes within stringent causal conditions. However, several foundational biological processes such as prosociality, inter- and intraspecific cooperation, and/or evolvability have been found to be inexplicable under the anachronistic, reductive model of natural selection. Research over the past half century has confirmed that the causal dynamics of natural selection can no longer be reducible to lower levels of biological organization (i.e., individuals, selfish genes) over shorter timescales but should be expanded to include adaptation at multiples levels and over longer timescales, more closely representing the selective process as it is found in nature.
Multilevel selection theory addresses a foundational question: How can behaviors that benefit others or one's group as a whole (i.e., prosociality) evolve, given their relative fitness disadvantage compared to more selfish behaviors within the same group? The answer is that prosocial behaviors have a relative fitness advantage in between-group competition. Yet the simplicity and foundational nature of MLS theory is obscured by its complex history in evolutionary thought. This special event will attempt to restore its foundational nature and explore implications for genetic evolution, human cultural evolution, and public policy.
Schedule:
10:50 AM EST – 11:00 AM EST – David Sloan Wilson: Introduction to the MLS Special Event
11:00 AM EST – 11:30 AM EST – Elliott Sober: A Brief History of MLS and a Few Philosophical Comments
11:30 AM EST – 12:00 PM EST – Joan Roughgarden: Selection on the Hologenome versus Adaptive Assembly to explain Holobiont Integration
12:00 PM EST – 12:30 PM EST – Michael Wade: Experimental Studies of Multilevel Selection
12:30 PM EST – 1:00 PM EST – Athena Aktipis: Tensions Between Levels of Selection in the Evolution of Cancer and Cancer Suppression
1:00 PM EST – 1:30 PM EST – Mitchell Ryan Distin: Macro-MLS Theory: Sex, Evolvability, and Major Evolutionary Transitions
1:30 PM EST – 2:00 PM EST – César Marín: Multilevel/functional selection in mycorrhizal symbioses
2:00 PM EST – 2:30 PM EST – Robin Costello: Multilevel Selection on Social Network Traits in Forked Fungus Beetles
2:30 PM EST – 3:00 PM EST - David Sloan Wilson: MLS as Foundational for Economics, Business, and Public Policy
3:00 PM EST – 3:30 PM EST - Latent Multilevel Selectionist Dynamics in Historical, Sociological, and Political Works
Time: 10:50 am - 3:30 pm EDT
Description: Natural selection theory is inarguably the most important theory in biology due to its ability to explain adaptations across domains. Yet it is a surprising fact that for the majority of evolutionary research, natural selection dynamics were largely reduced to lower levels of biological organization, that sought to explain adaptation only at the levels of the individual or selfish genes within stringent causal conditions. However, several foundational biological processes such as prosociality, inter- and intraspecific cooperation, and/or evolvability have been found to be inexplicable under the anachronistic, reductive model of natural selection. Research over the past half century has confirmed that the causal dynamics of natural selection can no longer be reducible to lower levels of biological organization (i.e., individuals, selfish genes) over shorter timescales but should be expanded to include adaptation at multiples levels and over longer timescales, more closely representing the selective process as it is found in nature.
Multilevel selection theory addresses a foundational question: How can behaviors that benefit others or one's group as a whole (i.e., prosociality) evolve, given their relative fitness disadvantage compared to more selfish behaviors within the same group? The answer is that prosocial behaviors have a relative fitness advantage in between-group competition. Yet the simplicity and foundational nature of MLS theory is obscured by its complex history in evolutionary thought. This special event will attempt to restore its foundational nature and explore implications for genetic evolution, human cultural evolution, and public policy.
Schedule:
10:50 AM EST – 11:00 AM EST – David Sloan Wilson: Introduction to the MLS Special Event
11:00 AM EST – 11:30 AM EST – Elliott Sober: A Brief History of MLS and a Few Philosophical Comments
11:30 AM EST – 12:00 PM EST – Joan Roughgarden: Selection on the Hologenome versus Adaptive Assembly to explain Holobiont Integration
12:00 PM EST – 12:30 PM EST – Michael Wade: Experimental Studies of Multilevel Selection
12:30 PM EST – 1:00 PM EST – Athena Aktipis: Tensions Between Levels of Selection in the Evolution of Cancer and Cancer Suppression
1:00 PM EST – 1:30 PM EST – Mitchell Ryan Distin: Macro-MLS Theory: Sex, Evolvability, and Major Evolutionary Transitions
1:30 PM EST – 2:00 PM EST – César Marín: Multilevel/functional selection in mycorrhizal symbioses
2:00 PM EST – 2:30 PM EST – Robin Costello: Multilevel Selection on Social Network Traits in Forked Fungus Beetles
2:30 PM EST – 3:00 PM EST - David Sloan Wilson: MLS as Foundational for Economics, Business, and Public Policy
3:00 PM EST – 3:30 PM EST - Latent Multilevel Selectionist Dynamics in Historical, Sociological, and Political Works
NSF Workshop
Date: June 26, 2024
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm
Overview presentation of Evolution related BIO programs followed by Q&A
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm
Overview presentation of Evolution related BIO programs followed by Q&A
External events
If you are hosting an event in Montréal that is related to the conference, but not officially connected, you can ask for it to be listed here (e.g. a workshop happening in town before or after the conference). Contact [email protected] with any questions.