2021 Summer Symposium

June 2-4, 2021
11:00 am – 4:00 pm EDT via Zoom

To access the recordings you will need the zoom password you were given for the symposium.

Join us for the Tiny Earth Summer Symposium! This annual event is designed to showcase student research presentations and Tiny Earth’s international network and community. Instructors should encourage their students to attend the conference, present their Tiny Earth research, and invite their families and friends to listen and learn.

Event Schedule

Wednesday, June 2

11:00 am EDT Welcome
Speaker: Sarah Miller
This session will welcome everyone to the symposium and provide an overview of the sessions. It will include a First Nations reading about the land on which we stand, a feature on antiracism, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, and updates from the Tiny Earth network from the Executive Director.
11:45 EDT Keynote: Tiny Earth, Big Discoveries
Speaker: Jo Handelsman
Tiny Earth Founder and Director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery will give an overview of Tiny Earth’s approach to studentsourcing antibiotic discovery from soil. Hear about exciting new research developments from the Tiny Earth network and Chemistry Hub.
12:45 pm EDT Break
1:15 EDT Today, Tiny Earth. Tomorrow…?
An Inside Look into Where Tiny Earthlings Go After Graduation
Speakers: Amy Shircel, Halee Behrens, Sabina Joseph, Varun Rachakonda, and Roman Lyudmer
Students! Hear how past Tiny Earthlings leveraged their experience for the next step in their careers, graduate school, and more.
2:15 EDT Break
2:30 EDT Panel: Anti-microbial stewardship as a public health imperative
Speakers: Deena Altman, Arturo Casadevall, Brian Darkow, Barry Fox, and Gail Nahwahquaw
Physicians, scientists, public health experts, and veterinarians share diverse perspectives about stewardship and public health issues related to antibiotic use.
3:30 EDT Sponsor Presentation: Vaccine development and moving on from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Speaker: Greg Bleck, Catalent
Discussing the different COVID-19 vaccines, why they were able to be developed so fast, and what may be next.
4:00 EDT Wrap Up Day 1

Thursday, June 3

11:00 am EDT Welcome
Speaker: Heather Pelzel
Tiny Earth Symposium Co-Chair gives welcome remarks with an inclusive introductory activity
11:15 EDT Student Research Presentations (Session I)
Poster Gallery I
Learn about Tiny Earth student research findings on their path toward antibiotic discovery from bacteria in soil. Help us celebrate their accomplishments!
12:15 pm EDT Break
12:45 EDT Keynote: Role of Emergent Properties in Shaping Host-Microbe Interactions
Speaker: Nichole Broderick
Join Tiny Earth Director of Science and Training for a session on research and discovery
1:45 EDT Break
2:15 EDT Student Research Presentations (Session II)
Poster Gallery II
Continue to learn about Tiny Earth student research findings on their path toward antibiotic discovery from bacteria in soil. Help us celebrate their accomplishments!
3:15 EDT Today, Tiny Earth. Tomorrow…?
An Inside Look into Hiring and Admissions
Speakers: Alice Joplin, Sebastian Kraves, Jennifer Heinritz, Chuck Klein
Students! Join industry leaders and admissions officers to talk about careers, internships, and graduate school in science.
4:15 EDT Wrap Up Day 2

Friday, June 4

This day is for Tiny Earth Partner Instructors (TEPIs) only
11:00-3:00 EDT Tapas Talks & Topical Discussions
Join us for a suite of TEPI “Tapas Talks” – short talks by TEPIs about Tiny Earth instructional ideas, research, and other innovations. Tapas talks will be interspersed with informal topical discussions relevant to teaching Tiny Earth.

Past Events