Reflections on the 2023 NCAS Annual Meeting

This is the first in a short series: Reflections on the 2023 NCAS Annual Meeting.  We had so many great comments from the UNCP Compass group that would not fit in their newsletter article, so we will be running one quote a day for the next couple of weeks.

The students who shared their reflections are listed in the table below.

Enjoy! Here is the first installment:

It was an exciting and informative event for all of us and provided a great platform for us to learn from and engage with talented students from various fields.

Job Posting: NCSU Postdoctoral Teaching Scholar

 https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/178210

The Biotechnology Program (BIT) at North Carolina State University invites applications for the position of Postdoctoral Teaching Scholar in the area of molecular biology. This is a 12-month position and is renewable for up to 3 years based on performance and funding availability.

Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include teaching sections at the graduate and undergraduate levels of an existing course that explores manipulation and expression of recombinant DNA and developing and implementing a new laboratory course in a cutting-edge area of molecular biotechnology in the fellow’s area of expertise. There are opportunities for mentoring of undergraduate students in authentic research projects and discipline-based education research (DBER) studies.

Astronomy Days 2023: The Quest for Extraterrestrial Life

 What? Astronomy Days – 2-day spectacular event featuring cool exhibits, presentations, crafts, and explorations of the universe. Free, in person, and open to the public.

Theme? Humans in Space: Past, Present, and Future!

When? Saturday-Sunday, January 28-29, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Where? NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh

NC Academy of Science (NCAS) booth: The Quest for Extraterrestrial Life

How can I help?  Join the Academy in its booth featuring living animals of extreme environments, living plants small enough to fit onto necklaces, games and crafts featuring extreme environments, and engaging the public in the excitement of science.

Why should I help?  It’s a lot of fun, an opportunity for community outreach, and you can volunteer for as little or as much time as you want, leaving plenty of time to visit other booths and events.  No prior experience or special skills needed!

Who volunteers for the NCAS booth?  College and high school students, faculty, and museum volunteers typically assist in our spacious booth (inside the Curiosity Classroom), which is furnished with several tables and chairs.

Who should I contact about volunteering?  Lisa Kelly (lisa.kelly@uncp.edu; 910-521-6377) or Maria Pickering (mpickering@meredith.edu)

Where can I park?  Free parking is available within walking distance of the museum.

Congratulations to the 2022 Yarbrough Awardees!

The Yarborough grant committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 awards.

Anna Braaten from Campbell University mentored by Dr. Stephanie Mathews.

Caleb Fluno from Lenoir-Rhyne University  mentored by Dr. Carly York

Alexander Gehron from Catawba University  mentored by Dr. Carmony Hartwig

Sarina Maybank from Fayetteville State University mentored by Dr. Danielle Graham

Heather McDowell from Lenoir-Rhyne University mentored by Dr. Marsha Fanning

Tanner White from Lenoir-Rhyne University mentored by Dr. Judy Moore

STEM for All Video Showcase

Check it out by clicking HERE and vote for your favorite!

The COMPASS2 scholarship program, directed by Marisol Santisteban at UNCP, has been hard at work and would love for you to see their work and vote. Click on the “Vote for Public Choice” thumb icon under the video to make your vote. The vote closes on May 17.

Virtual CANCAS Undergraduate Research Workshop, Sat January 22nd, 2022

This workshop will provide opportunities to learn about various graduate programs, resume preparation, preparation of oral and poster presentations, and job and graduate program application preparation.

Workshop attendance is included in the CANCAS membership.  

To become a member of CANCAS follow the link to JoinIT:  https://www.joinit.org/o/north-carolina-academy-of-science

Individual membership has been discounted this year, to $5 and faculty club advisors may sign up all individual students as a CANCAS Group for $50. 

Once CANCAS membership is complete, students can register for the CANCAS Workshop using the link below.  The promotional code will be the student’s email, which will allow you to register for the event for no additional cost. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/virtual-cancas-undergraduate-research-workshop-2022-registration-240110596257

Send any questions to Laura Reichenberg laura.reichenberg@pfeiffer.edu

Lisa Zhang is awarded the 2021 Cocke, Decker, Takahashi, McCoy & Brogie Memorial Award

We are excited to announce that a North Carolina student was selected for a national award of the American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS). The selection committee had a very difficult time determining which essay would receive the award, but in the end, they selected the essay written by Lisa Zhang from North Carolina. Lisa’s essay truly captured the essence of the American Junior Academy of Science’s mission making it stand out from the others.

We would like to congratulate Lisa!! Her essay will be printed in the next NAAS Newsletter.

Beware of scams!

Dear NCAS members,

Recently, an NCAS Member discovered a monthly recurring $50 charge to their bank account, appearing to be from the NC Academy of Science. This appears to be a scam as no $50 credit was found in our accounts. Please be aware of this and notify us if you discover similar charges to your account.

Best,

NCAS Treasurer

Reminder: NCAS Meeting Starts Tomorrow!

The NCAS Annual Meeting is almost here! You may view the event at The Online Event Page now - it has live Zoom links for all the sessions this Friday and Saturday.  Note: You will need to create an account or you can login if you have used Eventbrite in the past. Check out the many opportunities you'll have to engage with your peers, support young scientists, and learn from our guest speakers and panelists.

We hope you enjoy the conference welcome packet that has been mailed to you - a small token of our appreciation for your involvement in our wonderful NCAS organization. 

See you in just two more days!

Judy, Mike and Marsha, your 2021 Annual Meeting Hosts

Register now for the NCAS Annual Meeting!

Registration for the virtual NCAS Annual Meeting (March 12-13) is now open! Early registration runs through February 24th, which is also the deadline for abstract submission. Late registration will be available through March 13th.

Note to all current NCAS members and CANCAS group members: you MUST enter your email address as a promo code in the upper left corner of the registration page for the opportunity to pay just for the meeting and not also for membership.

We hope you plan to join us! Please share this information with your students and colleagues.