Full Schedule and Session Descriptions:

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Tuesday, October 19 – Science of the Pandemic Moment

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2:30 - 3:15 PM EST Welcome and Introductions

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Kick off the virtual conference with a welcome statement from MLC Board Director David Garbe, introductions and a networking activity. You’ll likely leave this welcome session with new mobile lab contacts.

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3:20 - 4:00 PM EST Member Presentation: Janee Pelletier, Learning Undefeated presents "Communicating Your Value in the Post-Pandemic World"

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Over the last 18 months, MLC community members have redefined delivery of STEM programs to stay relevant. But if you’re best known for your mobile lab, how do you articulate your value when your mobile labs are parked? Learn how one MLC member pivoted to create digital and hybrid programs – and even used a mobile lab as a vaccine clinic -- growing their user audience and creating PR opportunities. Leave with strategies that you can implement in your own program, even without a marketing staff or comms budget.

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4:05 - 5:00 PM EST Keynote Presenter: “The Science of Vaccines: Past Present and Future” by Dr. Greg Lemke, Salk Institute

 

Dr. Greg Lemke, Professor, Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory Françoise Gilot-Salk Chair of the Salk Institute will break his presentation down into three parts: history of vaccines, current moment with new vaccines, and what’s next on the path to a healthy world. Attendees will get an in-depth look at the history of vaccines and the decades of research that have helped produced the vaccines of today; leaving the session with the knowledge to the research and data of modern vaccines. Dr. Lemke will allow time for audience questions and answers – what questions do you have for Dr. Greg Lemke about COVID-19 and/or vaccines? Submit them here for him to address during his keynote presentation: https://www.menti.com/huhasdjh7y.

 

5:00 - 5:30 PM EST Breakouts: "Bringing this science to our communities" facilitated by Joshua Von Trapp, Salk Institute.

 

Building off of the keynote presentation, attendees will break out into groups, have meaningful discussions with prompts, and utilize Google Jamboard to capture brainstorming and ideas.

 

5:35 - 6:00 PM EST Trivia and Networking Session

Don’t miss this bonding opportunity to get to know fellow colleagues in the mobile lab industry. Grab a beverage of choice and be ready for fun science-themed breakouts with trivia. The option to "stay" longer is available if it's desired!

 

Wednesday, October 20 – Confronting bias to make science accessible to our communities

 

2:00 - 2:30 PM EST MLC Business Meeting (Closed to Members-Only)

 

This important annual member business meeting will be led by the MLC Board of Directors. We strongly encourage at least one person from each member organization to attend. A separate link will be emailed prior to the meeting.

 

2:35 - 3:15 PM EST Member-Led Panel: "Shop Talk" featuring Ben Dubin-Thaler, BioBus NYC, Tim Hawthorne, GeoBus and Michelle Ventura-Ezeoke, Bio-Bus.

 

Jump in and join the lively panel discussion and hear work shared by two MLC members. This fluid discussion will focus on three topics: 1) Researchers interested in outreach/conducting community-based projects, 2) scaling impact/finding new funding opportunities and 3) Applying DEI in your program. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in a meaningful conversation and learn from colleagues

 

3:20 - 4:45 PM EST Keynote Workshop: "Communicating Science Across Cultures” facilitated by Dr. Dana Crawford, Clinical Psychologist and current Scholar-in-Residence at Columbia’s Zuckerman Institute.

 

Dr. Dana E. Crawford, PhD, is a renowned pediatric and clinical psychologist who developed the Crawford Bias Reduction Theory & Training, a systematic approach to reducing bias, prejudice and racism. She is currently a Scholar-in-Residence at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute and there delivers interactive workshops focused on reducing bias in professional and personal contexts.

 

Her session will hold space for reflection around practices of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. With Dr. Crawford's expert guidance, participants will be prompted to plan their own actions within the context of their organization's science outreach missions.

 

4:50 - 5:30 PM EST MLC Member Presentation: "Using Data to Define your Program Distribution"

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Do you have an equity or access problem that your mobile lab program is aiming to solve? Are you struggling to find the data to define your problem? Join us and learn about Region 13's approach, share the equity and access problem you are trying to solve, develop solutions with a partner, and share where you find data to define your problem.

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5:35 - 6:00 PM EST Closing Remarks/Key Takeaways​

 

The conference will conclude with the final opportunity to provide comments, wrap up on key themes, and go through snapshots of important takeaways and lessons learned.

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You’ll notice a 5-minute gap between each session. During this time we will be accommodating for short breaks and showcasing the MLC Connects Member showcase videos, a digital mobile laboratory rodeo! 

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