Conference Overview
Botany
2004 represents the annual meeting of four professional societies,
including: the American Bryological and Lichenological Society (ABLS),
the American Fern Society (AFS), the American Society of Plant Taxonomists
(ASPT), and the Botanical Society of America (BSA). The
conference will be held in Snowbird, Utah from July 31 to August 5, 2004,
and the theme for Botany 2004 will
be “Alpine Diversity: Adapted to the Peaks.”
In addition to the regular
program, which will run from Sunday through Wednesday (August 1-5), Botany
2004 will include an expanded format. The third Forum focusing on botanical
education and outreach will be held on Saturday, July 31, and it will be
linked to the annual scientific meeting on Sunday, August 1, via workshops
and field trips.
This Call is
for the topical sessions to be presented at the Forum on Saturday. There
are separate Calls for Workshops, as well as for
Abstracts and for Discussion Sessions at the annual scientific meeting. |
Forum Overview
The Botany 2002
conference in Madison, Wisconsin included the inaugural education/outreach
Forum. Approximately 1,000 plant biologists attended the overall conference,
and 300 of these traveled to Madison early to attend the Forum. The Program
Committee was delighted with the attendance and with the Forum program. A
summary of the program is available online http://www.botany2002.org. Attendees completed evaluation forms of the Forum program, and they
also found it to be very valuable and a refreshing addition to annual
scientific meeting. Therefore, Botany 2003 will include the second Forum.
"...Teaching students about plant biology is
as critical to the future of the field as is research and must take its
proper place as an equally laudatory endeavor for botanists. Equally vital
are activities that communicate the excitement of plant biology to students
and teachers involved in K-12 education and to the general public..."
This passage from the Botany
for the Next Millennium Report (BSA, 1995) emphasizes the important role
of education and outreach, at all levels. However, there continues to be a
reduction in the number of Botany courses taught at the undergraduate level,
many Botany Departments and programs have been eliminated nationwide, and the
National Research Council no longer recognizes Botany as a valid graduate
education program. Despite this, the global significance of plants continues
to grow. It is therefore vital that botanists and their professional
societies work to ensure that plants are represented in the undergraduate and
graduate curriculum, as well as in science outreach initiatives.
The Forum will begin on
Friday evening with early registration and an informal reception. The main
sessions will occur on Saturday. Although some informational sessions will be
included, the program will primarily include interactive panel and roundtable
discussions as well as breakout groups focusing on a range of topics.
Sunday's offerings will include a hands-on workshops. Two-hour, half-day, and
full-day workshops will be organized so that attendees can participate in
more than one workshop, and/or participate in field trips, also being planned
for Sunday. The Call for Workshops has already been posted on the
conference web site (see below).
The principal focus of
the Forum will be undergraduate education and related outreach; however, K-12
teachers are also encouraged to participate. In addition to hands-on
workshops focusing on undergraduate topics, several workshops, and perhaps
field trips, will be specifically targeted for K-12 teachers.
All members are invited
and encouraged to attend and present at the Forum.
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Saturday Sessions
TOPICAL 'THREADS' -
Individual sessions will be grouped within topical themes, or `threads'. The
six general threads being considered are listed below, and each is followed
by several example session titles. Organizers will be able to submit their
own session titles as well as select the most appropriate thread for their
session.
- Emphasizing Botany across the
Curriculum
- Sessions on what is the vital content to cover, and what's at the
cutting edge within disciplinary areas (e.g., systematics, development,
etc.), “How to promote plants if you are the only botany faculty member
in a department,” “Developing interdisciplinary courses/curricula,”
“Educating pre-service teachers about plants”
- Designing Investigative
Laboratories
- Sessions on `model,' or
best-practice, labs (e.g., “Using Wisconsin Fast Plants to study plant
development,” “Using instructional technology to examine
photosynthesis”)
- Engaging Undergraduates in
Research -
“What are the challenges of mentoring undergraduate research students,”
“Publishing with undergraduates in peer-reviewed journals, “Using your
courses to feed your research program”
- Developing Effective Teaching
and Mentoring Skills - “How to become a teacher-scholar,” “How to review
manuscripts and grant proposals,” “Tips on balancing your academic
time,” “Graduate student training programs: The do's and don'ts”
- Supporting Effective Teaching
and Learning
- Sessions on funding (e.g., information about grant sources, tips on
writing proposals and grant management); “Managing a university
greenhouse or herbarium,” “Tips for Chairs and Deans,” “How to best prep
an Introductory Lab,” “How to assess the effectiveness of an advanced
course”
- Reaching Out beyond the Ivory
Towers -
“Linking up with botanical gardens and arboreta,” “Linking up with
teachers,” “Linking up with the media,” “Designing and implementing
workshops for teachers,” Sessions on best-practice initiatives.
SESSION TYPES - Four
types of sessions will be included in the FORUM program, and these are listed
below. Organizers will be able to select the most appropriate type of session
for their topic.
- Informational Session - A presentation by one to
three speakers in which specific information is conveyed. Informational
sessions should leave a minimum of 20 minutes for questions and answers.
- Breakout Session - An introduction by one to
three facilitators followed by time for in-depth discussion or an
organized activity that engages the audience. Two thirds of the time
period should be devoted to discussion and interaction. A breakout
session often culminates in a commitment: group recommendations or
personal agendas for future implementation.
- Panel Session - Two to four panel members
including a moderator, each of which may give a brief introduction,
followed by discussion among them and with the audience. Half of the
time period should involve audience participation.
- Roundtable Session - A roundtable is a
freewheeling discussion, usually with multiple viewpoints. The
discussion is facilitated by a moderator, but there are no formal
speakers. The moderator sets the stage for the discussion by providing
one or two provocative questions. Virtually the entire session is
interactive.
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TITLE of
forum session:
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ORGANIZER(s)
name, address, phone and FAX numbers, and e-mail
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PARTICIPANT(s)
name, address, phone and FAX numbers, and e-mail.
For each participant, indicate if the person (1) has been invited, (2)
has agreed to participate or (3) has yet to contacted.
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TOPICAL
THREAD:
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Provide a
SUMMARY (ABSTRACT) of your session that includes relevant background and
significance of the topic (maximum 200 words):
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SESSION
type: (*see
descriptions above)
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AV NEEDS.
Select one or more by pressing mouse button and ctrl key (or apple key) at
same time:
Please
list ANY OTHER AV NEEDS:
For COMPUTER-BASED
PRESENTATION, please describe computer needs, including Internet Access,
PowerPoint, etc.
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If you
would like an EMAIL CONFIRMATION of your message, please include your e-mail
address and name:
E-Mail Address: Name:
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Deadline
for receiving session proposals is April 1, 2004.
Submission of session
proposals should be conducted online using this form. Copies of the proposals
will be sent electronically to the sender and the FORUM Planning Committee.
This request is sent electronically by pressing the "Submit
Proposal" button. Pressing this button sends e-mail messages to the BSA
Program Director and FORUM Planning Committee. The deadline for receiving
session proposals is April 1, 2004.
The number of 45 minute
sessions that will be able to be accepted will be contingent upon the size
and scope of the overall program. Because session submissions may overlap and
space will be limited, proposals for Sessions will be evaluated by the Forum
Planning Committee, which includes representatives from all societies
participating in Botany 2004. Session organizers will then be notified in May
2003 about their sessions.
A Registration Brochure
for Botany 2003 will be mailed to members of participating societies in
spring 2004, and it will be available online at the conference web site.
For additional
information or questions, contact:
- Jeffrey M. Osborn, BSA
Program Director
Division of Science
Truman State University
100 E. Normal Street
Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
(660) 785-4017 FAX (660) 785-4045
E-mail: josborn@truman.edu
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