Workshop Program

Note: the 2009 workshop is over. Find out more about the "Preparing for an Academic Career in the Geosciences" workshops, or read on for more information about the 2009 workshop.
opening session, CP09 workshop
Jump down to Friday * Saturday * Sunday

Thursday, July 16, 2009


10:00-6:00 Workshop Registration

Optional Pre-Workshop Events on Thursday Afternoon


12:00-4:00 NAFT Forever Earth Field Trip - Lake Mead National Recreation Area

See the Lake Mead field trip photo gallery

2:30-3:30 Concurrent Sessions

families and careers panel, CP09 workshop

3:45-4:45 Concurrent Sessions

  • Families and Careers: A Panel Discussion - Robyn Wright Dunbar, moderator - Lilly Fong Geoscience Building (LFG) 102
    Discussion of issues, opportunities, and choices associated with families and careers, including children, dual-career couples, and more, followed by questions from the participants.
  • The Global Warming Diet: Food Climate Connections (Acrobat (PDF) 20.3MB Jul21 09) - Eugene Cordero - Lilly Fong Geoscience Building (LFG) 105
    The topic of global warming has become one of the defining scientific, political and social issues of our era. Interest in reducing emissions of heat trapping gases has spurred both environmentalists and entrepreneurs toward developing new strategies and products that will reduce the carbon footprint of humanity. While more efficient automobiles and renewable energy both sit center stage in the solutions category, agriculture and our industrial food system seemingly play a more minor role in the public eye. The talk, however, will focus on food, how it is grown, where it comes from, and how changing one's diet can reduce carbon emissions as effectively as buying a new fuel-efficient car. The material for this talk comes from the recently published book Cool Cuisine: Taking the Bite out of Global Warming, a collaboration with Bay Area Chef, Laura Stec. Cool Cuisine examines the connections between food and energy use and offers tips and recipes for how to reduce our carbon footprint through food choices.

Workshop Begins


CP09 icebreaker

5:00-6:00 Receptionand Icebreaker Activity, Student Union (SU) Room 208BC

6:00-7:00 Dinner, SU Room 208BC

7:00-9:00 Introductions and Opening Session, SU Room 208BC

  • Welcome, Introductions, Workshop Goals and Overview
    Heather Macdonald and Robyn Wright Dunbar
  • Where Do You Want to Go? - A Spectrum of Academic Careers: Panel and Discussion
    Workshop leaders from different types of colleges and universities
    Each panelist will give a short overview of his or her current job. Following the presentations, all of the workshop leaders will field questions. The goal is for participants to learn more about the diversity of job opportunities available in academia.


Friday, July 17, 2009


7:00-8:00 Breakfast - Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons (DIN)

8:15-8:35 Overview of Day and Preparing Now For Your Future Academic Career in the Geosciences (Acrobat (PDF) 779kB Jul8 09), SU Ballroom Section C
Heather Macdonald

Theme for the day: Who are you as a teacher?

Robyn\

8:40-9:40 Research on Learning: Concurrent Sessions

9:40-10:00 Break

10:00-11:00 Teaching Breakout Sessions I

participants discuss interactive exercises

11:10-12:10 Teaching Breakout Sessions II

participants writing their course design ideas
teaching activity posters

12:10-1:00 Lunch and Optional Lunch-time Birds of a Feather Discussions (12:15-1:15) - Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons (DIN)

Possible topics might include: International scientists in the U.S., dual-career academic couples, geoscience misconceptions, other topics suggested by participants or leaders.

1:40-3:15 Designing Effective Classroom/Laboratory Activities - SU Ballroom Section C
Heather Macdonald and other workshop leaders

For this activity, you will work in small groups to develop a classroom or lab activity that addresses a key concept or skill in your discipline. This session will be an opportunity to share ideas with other participants as you consider different ways to teach that concept or skill.

See the list of the characteristics of strong teaching activities workshop participants developed.

See the posters about teaching activity ideas.

3:15-3:45 Break

3:45-5:00 Teaching Statements Concurrent Sessions: Articulating Your Teaching Goals and Highlighting Your Accomplishments

  • Introduction to Teaching Statements - SU 207
    Robyn Wright Dunbar
    This session is designed to "jump start" the writing process for those who have yet to draft a teaching statement. Participants will articulate their teaching goals and accomplishments and begin the process of folding these into a concise teaching statement.
CP09 participants during a break
  • Review of Teaching Statements - SU Ballroom Section C
    Heather Macdonald and other workshop leaders
    Participants who bring five copies of their teaching statements will work in small groups, each with a workshop leader, reviewing each other's statements and offering feedback. Leaders will also offer their comments.

5:00-5:20 Reflection time and Daily Road Check - SU Ballroom, Section C

5:20-6:30 Dinner - Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons (DIN)

7:00 Optional Evening Discussions

  • Early Career Time Management - SU Ballroom, Section C
    Robyn Dunbar
  • Writing Your First Research Grant - SU 207
    David Steer and Rachel O'Brien

Saturday, July 18, 2009

7:00-8:00 Breakfast - Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons (DIN)

Theme for the morning: Who are you as a researcher?

CP09 participants work on their elevator talks

8:15-8:35 Report on Daily Feedback and the Role of Research in Launching a Career (Acrobat (PDF) 43kB Jul16 09) - SU Ballroom Section C

Faculty as researchers
This session will start you thinking about where your research might lead in the future, how it might integrate with your teaching, and how it might differ depending upon the institution type.

8:35-9:40 Presenting Yourself to Others (Acrobat (PDF) 81kB Jul16 09) - SU Ballroom Section C
Heather Macdonald and FranciscaOboh-Ikuenobe

In the job search process you will have very brief, yet critical, opportunities to convey your work to others. Participants in this session will refine a personal "Elevator Talk," a paragraph that describes the nature and significance of your research and is aimed at an audience of other geoscientists. You will then practice talking about your work to others.

9:40-10:00 Break

10:00-11:00 Moving Your Research Forward to New Settings: Breakout Sessions

CP09 participants discuss moving their research to a PUI

11:10-12:10 Research Statements: Concurrent Sessions

  • Introduction to Research Statements (Acrobat (PDF) 43kB Jul16 09) - Room 207
    Heather Macdonald
    This session is designed to "jump start" the writing process for those who have yet to draft a research statement and will include discussion of key aspects of research statements intended for a particular type of institution (e.g., liberal arts college, research university).
  • Review of Research Statements - SU Ballroom Section C
    Robyn Wright Dunbar and other workshop leaders
    Participants who submitted research statements in advance will review each other's research statements and will discuss key aspects of research statements intended for a particular type of institution (e.g., liberal arts college, research university).

12:10-1:00 Lunch and Optional Lunch-time Birds of a Feather Discussions (12:15-1:15) - Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons (DIN)

Possible topics might include the community college interview, children and careers, question and answer (Q&A) potpourri, and other topics suggested by participants or leaders

Theme for the afternoon: Choosing Where You Want to Go and Getting There

View from the UNLV Student Union

1:30-2:50 Mapping Your Career: Choices, Balance, and Action Planning - SU Ballroom Section C
Heather Macdonald and all workshop leaders

Given where you are in your career and what you have learned at this workshop, reflect on your long term goals or "dream job." What are your next steps? What advice would help you most at this point?

2:50-3:10 Break

3:10-4:30 The Academic Job Search (Acrobat (PDF) 47kB Jul16 09): Applications, Interviews, Teaching Demonstrations, and Job Talks - SU Ballroom Section C
Heather Macdonald and all workshop leaders

How to tailor your application for each advertised position, what to expect during your interview, and how to prepare an effective "job talk" (research presentation and/or teaching demonstration). Brief presentations will be followed by a question and answer period and some mock interview questioning.

4:30-5:00 Negotiating Before You Accept an Academic Position: Setting Yourself Up for Success
Peg Rees, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

This session will provide some insights on what you might want to consider asking about and asking for prior to accepting an academic job offer. Negotiating is a combination of skills and an awareness of what might be available. We will explore the potential of going to work with a greater potential for success because you negotiated. The workshop leader has years of experience watching and participating in the process as a faculty member, a department chair, and as an upper-level academic administrator. She'll share knowledge, skills, and tricks of the trade.

5:00-5:30 Reflection, Next Steps, and Workshop Evaluation

contra dance

6:30 Reception followed by dinner at 7:00 - SU Ballroom Section B and C. Dinner will be followed by an optional contra dance for those who are interested.


Sunday, July 19, 2009


7:00-8:30 Breakfast - Hazel M. Wilson Dining Commons (DIN)

Optional Workshop Sessions


8:30-9:30 Concurrent Workshops: Session 1

  • Designing a Lecture for an Introductory Course (Acrobat (PDF) 173kB Jul16 09) - SU 205
    David Steer
    Not sure what to expect when you teach your first introductory lecture? This session will help you learn how to start things off on a positive note. You will learn some do's and don'ts regarding that first day of class. You will also learn how to incorporate best teaching practices into a single class period that will benefit your students and save you time in the long run. By the end of the session you have planned for one class session in an introductory course you might teach in the future.
  • Informal Science Education: Pedagogy and Careers - SU 207
    Allison Brody, Public Lands Institute, UNLV
    Informal Science Education (ISE) can be effective, engaging, and rewarding for both the facilitator and the participants. In this session, we will offer both a pedagogical framework for creating effective ISE experiences as well as strategies for pursuing a career in ISE.
  • Preparing a Syllabus - SU 209
    Ellen Martin and Jon Lewis
    A course syllabus provides general information about the material to be covered, grading policies and expectations in a course. It also serves as a contract between the student and instructor. In this session we will review the common information provided on a syllabus and discuss policy statements that can provide safeguards for the instructor.
  • Tapping into your Leadership Skills - SU 218
    Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe
    This session will explore leadership and communication skills that are important in your success in teaching, research and service, motivating students and colleagues to ensure goals are successfully completed, and utilizing your time effectively.

9:30-9:45 Break

9:45-10:45 Concurrent Workshops: Session 2

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-12:00 Concurrent Workshops Session 3

If you attended any of the optional sessions on Sunday morning, please fill out the Sunday session evaluation form. Thanks!