Academic Conference Planning

Microbiome Centers Conference

Mentors

Cathy Pfister, co-Director, The Microbiome Center, Professor, Department of Ecology and Evolution

Background

In the US, more than 50 microbiome centers have been established at universities and national laboratories across the US, most of them in the past three years. The Microbiome Center and the Duchossois Family Institute are hosting a national meeting of ~50 microbiome centers directors on our campus November 7-9, 2021. The key goal of this conference is to solidify a network of microbiome centers, laying a foundation that will enable the centers to communicate what microbiome centers do and how collaboration among such centers can drive scientific discovery and application. Before, during and after the meeting, we aim to promote our activities and our conclusions.

Internship Description

Under the guidance of the mentors, the intern will attend and take detailed scientific notes at the MCC2021 meeting in November, then work with science communication professionals to disseminate the outcomes during the following winter quarter. This will include the following: outline the anticipated network structure, generate content for a consortium website, assist with creating a white paper on network formation, and communicate findings within and beyond the scientific community through blog posts, articles, and video.

Expectations

• Provide minutes and notes on small group collaborations.
• Design and draft blog posts on the meeting and its conclusions.
• Provide project management on a white paper coauthored by meeting attendees, drafting copy for the white paper as needed.

Specific Objectives

• Learn the logistical steps involved in disseminating the outputs from a science conference.
• Learn how to navigate a complex organization to communicate with principal investigators about their research, gain trust, and disseminate new ideas
• Record meeting content for rapid distribution after each meeting.
• Identify multiple ways to communicate content and ideas that come from it.
• Learn how to write about complex scientific concepts for a public audience.
• Learn to work closely with an editor and understand the many levels of editing and sign-off critical to writing for leading universities, appreciating the importance of vetting concepts with faculty.
• In collaboration with scientists, sketch out elements of the network structure that will help achieve goals of the group.
• Spearhead, with participating scientists, the development of a white paper to communicate the outcome of the meeting and the path forward for a microbiome center network.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Ruth Fahey at rjfahey@uchicago.edu with the subject title myCHOICE Internship: Academic Conference Planning.