Networking is one of the key benefits of the workshop and the activities included are a staple in the CEW Student Program! These events are designed to create a professional yet casual milieu that enables students to interact with volunteer mentor professionals from industry, academia, and government. Mentors, who will be distinguishable by their nametags, will also be available and approachable during the poster social and coffee breaks! Further details will become available within the upcoming weeks, but for now, please see below for more information.
(i) CEW Student Networking Mixer (Sunday): Start the conference off right and prepare yourself for the world beyond undergraduate and graduate school (whether it be near or far) by meeting with a selection of mentors. Environmental science experts from all sectors (industry, government, and academia) will be in attendance, providing you an ideal opportunity to network in a fun and relaxed atmosphere (bonus: complimentary food and refreshments!). This is a fantastic opportunity to not only obtain career advice and get insight on available opportunities, but also to get your name out there!
(ii) CEW Student-Mentor Lunch (Tuesday): This is an additional student-mentor mixer event that will be held during a lunch break and will provide you with another opportunity to get career advice. Need more incentive? Get your lunch faster by skipping the regular food lines and lining up with the student-mentor VIPs!
Volunteer judges will evaluate all poster, platform, and 3MT® presentations entered in these competitions according to CEW-identified criteria. A sample judging rubric will be made available shortly, and we encourage students to keep these criteria in mind when preparing their presentations. There is also a meme competition, with winners decided by a popular vote, and an award for outstanding BSc and MSc theses!
(i) Poster and Platform Competition: Are you presenting your research and want valuable feedback as well as a chance to win cash prizes? Then sign up to be included in the Student Poster and Student Platform Competition!
(ii) Playle Award: If you have had your thesis submitted and accepted in the past year, you are eligible to be nominated for the Dr. Richard Playle Award for Outstanding Thesis in Ecotoxicology. Two awards (one each at the BSc and MSc level) are awarded annually. For more information on eligibility criteria and application deadlines, click here.
(iii) 3MT® Student Competition: Can you summarize your thesis in just 3 minutes with just a single, static slide? Challenge your ability to deliver a compelling and concise presentation about your research by signing up for the 3-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition! Cash prizes for first, second, and third place!
(iv) Meme Competition: What better way to deal with the crippling pressures of school than with humour? Here, students and non-students alike compete by designing their own toxicology memes to communicate the funny side of your science!
Take advantage of this opportunity to co-judge platforms and/or posters with a mentor-judge. Each student will be assigned a presentation and use the judging rubric to independently review the presenter and their work. They will then coordinate with their judging mentor to meet and discuss each other's scores. This is a great opportunity for students to get a behind-the-scenes view of what professionals look for in well-prepared scientific presentations, either in a poster or platform format. Participation will provide insight that can help you improve the presentation of your own research!
Ever wonder what it takes to be a session chair? Well, wonder no more! Here, students have the opportunity to assist session chair(s) during the conference and learn what it takes to keep a conference productive, organized, and on schedule! Assisting the chair(s) involves loading presentations and ensuring they are in the proper queue, keeping track of attendance at each presentation, thinking of possible questions to ask presenters, and possibly introducing presenters to the audience.
Up to 10 travel grants of $300.00 are available for students to subsidize travel costs. Application and eligibility criteria can be found here.