Sneak peek of graduate student sessions at 2021 Annual Meeting

By Paige Boyle, Ph.D. candidate at Utah State University Rachelle LaCroix Ph D Candidate, Cornell University

August 10, 2021

Grad students attend the Leadership Conference at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

The ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Graduate Student Committee has been hard at work preparing for the in-person Annual Meeting of the Societies in Salt Lake City this year, and we have an exciting lineup of graduate student-focused events for attendees! Here’s a preview of the sessions you’ll see in November.

Graduate Student Leadership Conference

Applications are closed for this event. Watch for applications to open for next year’s meeting in Baltimore

When: Saturday, 6 November and Sunday, 7 November

Graduate students attending the leadership conference will receive professional development training on research ethics, professional etiquette, networking, and communication. Students will also participate in a personality assessment to learn about their strengths and traits to build more effective working relationships. Graduate students will also participate in “Lunch with the Leadership” where they will have the opportunity to network with ASA, CSSA, and SSSA past, present, and future presidents. The leadership conference will continue throughout the week with a “build your own adventure” activity where students can attend various Annual Meeting sessions, workshops, and events.

Both Sides of the Peer Review—How to Conduct One and How to React to One

Open to all!

When: Sunday, 7 November, 1:45-2:45 pm

This panel will focus on how to conduct a good peer review, the common mistakes made in developing manuscripts, what the reviewer and manuscript authors should expect from the review process, and how to react to negative comments in peer reviews.

Plus, check out these three other sessions on publications: “Preparing Your Research for Article Submission,” “Peer Review: Benefits and Opportunities—Why Should I Peer Review,” and “Maximize the Impact of Your Published Work.”

Networking Session

Open to all!

When: Sunday, 7 November, 3:45-5:45 pm

This session, hosted by Corteva, will begin with an overview of professional networking techniques followed by a rotation of small-group networking between students and mentors from academia, industry, government, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Come prepared with an elevator speech and some extra business cards to exchange!

Graduate Student Social

Open to all graduate students!

When: Sunday, 7 November, 8:00-9:30 pm

Come mingle with fellow graduate students before the Annual Meeting kicks off! This is a great opportunity to meet members of the Graduate Student Committee and learn more about how to get involved in the Societies. Check in and ask any question you may have about Annual Meeting logistics, what sessions to attend, different divisions, or just stop by to socialize and meet your peers!

How to Ace an Interview

Open to all!

When: Monday, 8 November, 9:00-10:00 am

No matter the stage of your career, interview skills are always in demand. This session will focus on some of the most difficult interview questions—the behavioral questions where you’re asked to share examples of ways you’ve used a certain skill. Participants will get tips on how to address these questions and will work in small groups to practice and workshop their responses.

Social and Historical Contexts of Agronomy, Crop, and Soil Sciences: A Collaborative Effort to Foster Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Poster Session

Open to all!

When: Monday, 8 November, 4:00-6:00 pm

The LGBTQ+ Scientists and Allies and the Diversity Committee are co-hosting this poster session to highlight how members of the Societies are supporting one another, improving wellness, and celebrating the ways in which our communities align. In doing so, we will develop collaborations and ideas to improve diversity, equity, inclusion, and opportunities for all members within our Societies. The collaborative nature of this session invites all groups committed to improving scientific communications, membership engagement, and experience to step forward and participate in this important conversation.

SSSA and CSSA Society-Wide Competitions

Open to all!

When: Wednesday, 10 November

Posters 9:30 am-4:30 pm

CSSA Oral 1:30-3:00 pm

SSSA Oral 2:30-4:30 pm

Each division will select one graduate student representative to compete against the other divisions. The final competition will consist of a society-wide poster and five-minute rapid oral session against other selected students in their Society. This is a fantastic opportunity for graduate students to highlight each division’s contributions to their science and to meet members outside of your division. Come cheer on your fellow graduate students!

Communicating Your Science

Open to all!

When: Wednesday, 10 November, 10:00-11:30 am

This session will include tips from Societies’ Communications Department. Topics include using common values to foster connections with your audience, being concise, reducing jargon, and crafting a compelling message. An extended question-and-answer session will follow, so come ready with any and all questions!

There are, of course, so many other opportunities at this year’s Annual Meeting. It’s impossible to list them all here, so check out the full program at www.acsmeetings.org/program for more information.

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