What Makes Networks Work? Interactive Panel Discussion Panelists: Chris Beck, Teresa Mourad, Nancy Pelaez Moderator: Laurie Anderson

Panelist Introductions Chris Beck is a Professor of Pedagogy in the Department of Biology at Emory University, where he teaches ecology, ecology lab, organismal biology, and non-majors biology. He is interested in inquiry-based lab education and course-based research and how they affect student learning outcomes. He is co-PI with Rachelle Spell (also from Emory) of the REIL-Biology network that focuses on incorporating authentic research experiences in intro biology labs. Nancy Pelaez is Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Purdue University. Pelaez received a B.S. in Biology summa cum laude from Newcomb College of Tulane University, a k-12 California single subject teaching credential in both Life Science and Physical Science from Mills College, and a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics with a research focus on vascular muscle physiology from Indiana University School of Medicine with support from a Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellowship. Pelaez is PI of the NSF-funded project, “Advancing Competence in Experimentation – Biology (ACE- Bio) Network“ Teresa Mourad is Director of Education and Diversity Programs at the Ecological Society of America. She enjoys developing partnerships, promoting professional development of educators, and broadening participation of new audiences in ecology education. She holds a BA in Sociology and a MS in Environmental Education.

Panel Format: Three Themes, Interspersed with Discussion Panel Overview (Right now) Panelists present 1 slide each on Theme 1: Network Management (10 min) Small Group Discussion in Audience (10 min) 1 Report Out from Audience, 1 from Panel (5 min) Panelists present 1 slide each on Theme 2: Network Assessment and Evaluation (10 min) Small Group Discussion in Audience (10 min) 1 Report Out from Audience, 1 from Panel (5 min) Panelists present 1 slide each on Theme 3: Network Expansion and Partnerships (10 min) Small Group Discussion in Audience (10 min) 1 Report Out from Audience, 1 from Panel (5 min) Open Discussion – Remaining Time

Network Management What are best practices for managing an RCN- UBE network, arrived at through your experience? What are the challenges? What is the most surprising thing you have learned as you have tried to manage a network? For new networks: what are your deepest fears about managing a network?

Network Management – REIL-Biology What are best practices for managing an RCN-UBE network, arrived at through your experience? Pair but each with defined responsibilities Bring together commonality but also new – 2 groups combined Good food What are the challenges? The details: Logistics are hard. Organization is key. What is the most surprising thing you have learned as you have tried to manage a network? If you give people good food and try hard in your efforts, people will overlook your faults

ACE Bio NETWORK NSF # BEST PRACTICE: Diverse high quality people with integrity Advancement in research depends upon integrity. Every instance of dishonesty…has the potential to be harmful to individual investigators and to the relationship between science and the rest of society. SOURCE: Sindermann (1985) The Joy of Science “Decision” App by Velasquez et al., Sta Clara U

Network Management Teresa Mourad, Director of Education and Diversity Societies can offer: Dissemination channels Recognition & Visibility Archiving products Key challenges Communication Engagement Institutionalization

Network Management – Audience! What are best practices for managing an RCN- UBE network, arrived at through your experience? What are the challenges? What is the most surprising thing you have learned as you have tried to manage a network? For new networks: what are your deepest fears about managing a network?

Network Assessment and Evaluation How would you define success for your network? What approaches have you tried for measuring or documenting success? What assessment/evaluation techniques have worked well? What are the challenges? Describe a particularly satisfying assessment result your network has achieved or hopes to achieve.

ACE Bio NETWORK NSF # Transparent Process Useful Products Network Assessment

Network Assessment – REIL-Biology How would you define success for your network? Depends on network goal: e.g., implementation of CUREs in intro bio What approaches have you tried for measuring or documenting success? Workshop surveys Planning summative surveys Planning on alumni meeting What assessment techniques have worked well? Workshop surveys have provided useful information What are the challenges? Difficulty in getting external evaluator for small projects Describe a particularly satisfying assessment result your network has achieved or hopes to achieve. Large improvement in faculty readiness to assess CUREs after workshop

Network Assessment and Evaluation - Audience How would you define success for your network? What approaches have you tried for measuring or documenting success? What assessment/evaluation techniques have worked well? What are the challenges? Describe a particularly satisfying assessment result your network has achieved or hopes to achieve.

Network Expansion and Partnerships What experience does your network have partnering with other networks or organizations? How does your network encourage participation and expansion? What are best practices for this, based on your experience? What are good ways to open a dialogue with professional societies and other networks? What are the benefits to these relationships? What are the challenges?

Network Expansion & Partnerships Societies are networks of networks Life Discovery Partners Professional Societies Alliance for Life Science Education (PSALSE) ESA QUBES Faculty Mentoring Networks Teresa Mourad, Director of Education and Diversity Incubator: Next Generation Careers: Innovations in Environmental Biology

Network Expansion – REIL-Biology What experience does your network have partnering with other networks or organizations? All of our workshops are linked with professional society meetings. How does your network encourage participation and expansion? Steering committee originally from diverse communities Education networks of professional societies Direct marketing to particular institutions What are best practices for this, based on your experience? All of these approaches have been effective Professional society acceptance (e.g. advertise us on their website) helps outreach What are good ways to open a dialogue with professional societies and other networks? Personal connections with society infrastructure make it easier to break through the logistical challenges What are the benefits to these relationships? Potential for expansion and sustainability What are the challenges? Need someone who is experienced and connected

ACE Bio NETWORK NSF # chad-wick.com EXPANSION AND PARTNERSHIPS

Network Expansion and Partnerships – Audience! What experience does your network have partnering with other networks or organizations? How does your network encourage participation and expansion? What are best practices for this, based on your experience? What are good ways to open a dialogue with professional societies and other networks? What are the benefits to these relationships? What are the challenges?

Open Discussion What makes YOUR network work? What have we missed? Do you have any questions for the panel? Do you have additional Audience Choice Topics for this afternoon? Topics so far… – How do you market your products widely? – How do you create a cohesive group early on?