Inaugural WiSER Conference Highlights Statewide Research, Provides Advancement Opportunities for Students, Postdocs and Faculty

On Oct. 4-6, nearly 500 Wisconsin scientists, from undergraduate to faculty and beyond, will gather at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) campus for the inaugural Wisconsin Science Education and Research (WiSER) Conference. Hosted by the WiSER Consortium in collaboration with MCW, the conference will give undergrads, graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and higher ed faculty from 32 different schools the chance to learn about the innovative science and biomedical research that’s happening across Wisconsin.

The WiSER Consortium is composed of higher-ed science educators from across the state who share the common goals of inspiring learners with real world examples of science, exposing them to scientific research principles, and promoting their career development though a variety of programmatic opportunities. The idea behind the consortium and the conference originated from Michaela Patterson, PhD, associate professor of cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy, who won MCW’s Community Innovators Award in 2022. She proposed the idea of partnering with undergraduate schools around the state.

Like many of the programmatic offerings of the WiSER Consortium, the WiSER Conference is meant to give trainee scientists the unique opportunity to disseminate their science, inspire collaboration, and promote networking with colleagues. The conference is free for students with only a nominal fee for faculty, as organizers sought to eliminate economic barriers that commonly prevent trainee scientists from being able to participate. The conference may also prove a helpful tool to encourage students to pursue careers in STEM and for STEM retention.

Presenters will share topics including natural sciences research and pedagogical development for science education. It also gives faculty from smaller institutions a broader audience with whom to share their discoveries.

Delivering the keynote address for the conference’s inaugural year is Dr. Sean B. Carroll, Balo-Simon Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland and Professor Emeritus at UW-Madison. Carroll is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, including the Oscar-nominated “All That Breathes” (2022) along with two Emmy Awards for “The Farthest” (2017) and “The Serengeti Rules” (2018), the topic of his keynote address. Dr. Carroll is an author of several non-fiction science books and a long-time Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Investigator and has also held several leadership roles with the group.

In addition to the opportunity to attend two poster sessions, multiple concurrent sessions, and a networking lunch sponsored by Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin, trainee scientists will also have the chance to attend a career fair featuring advanced degree programs in Wisconsin and industry opportunities. The career fair will also have three breakout sessions on applying to health-related advanced degree programs, research-focused advanced degree programs, and landing a job in the Biotech Industry moderated by Dr. Michael Harrison of BioForward, a sponsor of the event. The career fair and breakout sessions will take place on Sunday, Oct. 6.