Past Events and Activites
Since the inception of our chapter in 2007, we have held and participated in many professional development, outreach, and social events (click the links for pictures- coming soon!): October 4, 2011. NSF Fellowship Workshop Part I. Part I of our annual two-part NSF Fellowship Workshop will be a panel offering advice on preparing a competitive NSF fellowship application.
September 13, 2011. Welcome BBQ. We held a successful Welcome BBQ with the LAGSES and BGESS student groups at 530PM on the lawn in front of Pat Brown's Grill. Over 60 people attended! May 5, 2011. Cinco de Mayo BBQ and iPad 2 Raffle Drawing. After selling raffle tickets throughout the month of April, we held a taco BBQ at which we drew the winning number for an iPad 2.
March 28, 2011. SACNAS/LAGSES Coffee Hour. We co-hosted a midday coffee hour with LAGSES (Latino/a Association of Graduate Students in Engineering and Science) to encourage interactions between graduate students in different departments and student groups. March 5-7, 2011. Society of Toxicology's Undergraduate Education Program. A couple of chapter members participated in this program designed to encourage undergraduates to pursue a graduate education and career in toxicology. One led an informal Q&A workshop on "How to go to Graduate School". March 1, 2011. SACNAS Game Night. We provided delicious Thai food along with board and video games for an entertaining night of Rock Band, Settlers of Catan, and more! March-May 2011. Community in the Classroom. A chapter member participated in this local volunteer program that organizes scientist visits to elementary school classrooms.
January 27, 2011. Saint Brigid Middle School Science Fair. A few chapter members traveled to San Francisco to participate as judges for a middle school science fair. We are very proud to announce that the nine winners selected by the judges also placed at the San Francisco city fair, with three going on to and placing at the regional fair.
December 2, 2010. SACNAS/LAGSES/BGESS Holiday Party. We co-hosted a holiday party with LAGSES (Latino/a Association of Graduate Students in Engineering and Science) and BGESS (Black Graduate Engineering and Science Students) at La Val's Pizzeria In Berkeley, enjoying pizza, pasta, and salad. October 2010. NSF Workshop Series. Our annual two-part National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Workshops were a success and well attended. In Part I (10/16/10), about 75 potential NSF fellowship applicants received advice on the application process from a panel of faculty and current NSF fellows. This year 9.3% (7) of attendees received the fellowship, while 21.3% (16) received an Honorable Mention. In Part II (10/28/10), applicants were paired with current NSF fellows for a critical revision of their application. Of the 35 applicants that were paired with mentors, 11.4% (4) received NSF fellowship, while 22.8% (8) received an Honorable Mention.
October 7-9, 2010. Berkeley Edge Conference. The annual Berkeley Edge Conference, funded by NSF AGEP, is designed to help outstanding underrepresented minority students competitively apply to UC Berkeley Ph.D. programs. Our chapter actively participated in this year's conference, attending lunches, dinners, and workshops to encourage ~50 prospective graduate students to attend UC Berkeley and join our SACNAS group. In addition, the SACNAS chapter was involved in planning a tour in Berkeley and San Francisco that included sightseeing and organization of a dinner with all the attendees in a Berkeley restaurant.
September 30-October 3, 2010. SACNAS National Conference, Anaheim, CA. Chapter members staffed UC Berkeley booths help recruit conference attendees to UC Berkeley and also presented their research. Our chapter also received a "Role Model Chapter-Outstanding Graduate Student Professional Development" award from the national SACNAS organization for the various professional development events we held during 2009-2010! September 7, 2010. SACNAS/LAGSES Welcome Week BBQ. We estimate that about 100 students, faculty, and staff attended this welcome BBQ that we co-hosted with the LAGSES (Latino/a Association of Graduate Students in Engineering and Science) student group. We think this was a record-breaking number of event attendees for us!
August 25, 2010. UC Berkeley New Graduate Minority Student Orientation. Chapter members participated in a luncheon and were members of a panel that provided advice on the transition to graduate school. May 11, 2010. Berkeley Edge Welcome Luncheon for Atlanta University Center. Chapter members met with undergraduate students from various universities in the Atlanta area considering UC Berkeley for graduate school. May 5, 2010. Cinco de Mayo Social. Our chapter celebrated Cinco de Mayo by ordering Mexican food and drinks.
April 22, 2010. "Beyond the C.V.: What it Can and Cannot Do For You" Workshop. We organized an event that was given by one of our SACNAS chapter advisors, Juan Meza. He used the hour long workshop to provide advice on applying for post-doctoral positions or other jobs in the sciences. Some of the points of focus included composing a C.V., what format of C.V. to use when applying for different positions, and how to tailor a cover letter/application to a job posting. April 1, 2010. NSF Fellowship Awardee Celebration. We held a social event to help new NSF GRFP fellowship awardees celebrate their accomplishments. Guitar Hero and cheese/crackers were a hit! March 18, 2010. Scientist Day, Solano Middle School. Graduate students and post docs from UC Berkeley, including a couple of chapter members, volunteered to answer questions and lead experiments performed by 150 students at Solano Middle School. The students learned about fluorescent proteins and their uses. March 10, 2010. Lawrence Hall of Science Geek Out. Chapter members took the short shuttle ride up the hill from campus to the Lawrence Hall of Science adults-only nightlife event on "Seismic Design". March 6-8, 2010. Society of Toxicology's Undergraduate Education Program. A couple of chapter members participated in this program designed to encourage undergraduates to pursue a graduate education and career in toxicology. They both led an informal Q&A workshop on "How to go to Graduate School". February-March 2010. Qualifying Exam Mentorship. To help 2nd year graduate students study/prepare for the exam, SACNAS chapter members read the 2nd years’ research proposals and provided critical feedback. After this, the SACNAS member sat through a practice qualifying exam and provided advice on both the preparation for and the presentation of the qualifying exam. January 22, 2010. Saint Brigid Middle School Science Fair. Members of the SACNAS chapter participated as judges in a full day science fair at the Saint Brigid School in San Francisco, CA. January 21, 2010. Story Corp Interview, archived in the National Library of Congress. Two of our SACNAS members, Patty Garcia and Maria Mouchess, participated in the Story Corp effort ‘Historias’ in San Francisco, CA. In their Story Corp interview they both described how their immigrant parents instilled in them the importance of higher education. While their parents struggled and worked hard to give them better opportunities, both of them made the best of their opportunities and are now graduate students in Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley. December 16, 2009. SACNAS/LAGSES/BGESS Holiday Social. Our chapter organized a holiday social with the Latino Association of Graduate Students in Science and Engineering (LAGSES) and Black Graduate Engineering and Science Students (BGESS) organizations to expand our network and foster discussion of new ideas on expanding membership, increasing visibility of the three groups on campus, and how to support minority students in the STEM fields. November 16, 2009. California Academy of Sciences “Night Life”. We traveled to San Francisco to attend this adults-only night-time event held at the premier science museum in the Bay Area. November 1, 2009. Guitar Hero Social. We brought snacks and set up Guitar Hero on a projector for a fun social event. October 29-31, 2009. Berkeley Edge Conference. The SACNAS chapter at UC Berkeley actively participated in the Annual Berkeley Edge Conference, attending lunches and dinners to encourage potential students applying for graduate school to come to UC Berkeley and join our SACNAS group. In addition, the SACNAS chapter was involved in planning a tour in San Francisco on October 31st, that included visiting landmark places and organizing a dinner with all the attendees in a San Francisco restaurant. October 15-18, 2009. SACNAS National Conference, Dallas, TX. Our chapter received a "Chapter of the Year-9 members or less" award from the national SACNAS organization for activities held over 2008-2009! We also presented our research and helped recruit students to UC Berkeley graduate programs. October 2009. NSF Workshop Series. We hold an annual two-part National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Application Workshop Series. In Part I (10/06/09), 78 potential NSF fellowship applicants received advice on the application process from a panel of faculty and current NSF fellows, with 23% (18) receiving the fellowship! In Part II (10/27/09), applicants were paired with current NSF fellows for a critical revision of their application. Of the 21 applicants that were paired with mentors, 43% (9) received NSF fellowship! We are very proud of our accomplishments considering the national average hovers around a 10% success rate. August 25, 2009. UC Berkeley New Graduate Minority Student Orientation. Our chapter participated in a luncheon and provided advice on the transition to graduate school to new graduate students. We also tabled at the event to recruit new chapter members. August 20, 2009. California Academy of Sciences “Night Life”. Chapter members went to San Francisco to attend this adults-only night-time event held in the newly opened Cal Academy of Science. August 11, 2009. Berkeley Edge Luncheon Panel: "Applying for and securing a graduate fellowship". Chapter members sat on a Q&A panel at this workshop. July 15, 2009. College of Natural Resources & Biology Scholars Program Panel. Chapter members sat on a panel to discuss applying to, preparing for, and entering grad school. July 7, 2009. Berkeley Edge Luncheon Series/Graduate Student Panel. Chapter members were part of a panel Discussion for incoming graduate students that provided advice on navigating the first year in a new environment and culture. July 6, 2009. Berkeley Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) Program Graduate Student Panel. Chapter members sat on a panel to discuss applying to, preparing for, and entering grad school. June-July 2009. Summer Math and Science Honors (SMASH) Program. For a third year in a row, our members participated as mentors for a research project they prepared for the SMASH program organized by the Level Playing Field Institute and UC Berkeley. The objective of the program is to bring underrepresented high school students to UC Berkeley each summer, where they experience what going to graduate school is like. For 2 weeks the students are exposed to the research project prepared by the graduate students, are taught the scientific method, and receive training on basic laboratory techniques. April 2009. Week Without Walls Day. Chapter members invited local high school students to campus and held workshops, Q&A sessions, and lab demonstrations. October 9-12, 2008. SACNAS National Conference, Salt Lake City, UT. Chapter members presented their research and helped recruit students to UC Berkeley graduate programs by staffing booths. October 2008. NSF Workshop Series. We hold an annual two-part National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Application Workshop Series. In Part I, potential NSF fellowship applicants received advice on the application process from a panel of faculty and current NSF fellows. In Part II, applicants were paired with current NSF fellows for a critical revision of their application. Many students who attended our workshops received the prestigious fellowship!
September 2008. Berkeley Edge Luncheon Series, "How to Get a Fellowship" Panel. April 2008. Week Without Walls Day. Chapter members invited local high school students to campus and held workshops, Q&A sessions, and lab demonstrations. March-May 2008. Community in the Classroom. UC Berkeley graduate students to go to local elementary schools and interact with students and teach them about science. SACNAS at Berkeley chapter members actively participated in this program, traveling to local elementary schools to interact with students and teach them about science. December 2007. Our Nation's Health Insurance: Michael Moore's 'Sicko' Screening. November 2007. Berkeley Edge Conference. The SACNAS chapter participated in the Annual Berkeley Edge Conference, attending lunches and dinners to encourage potential students applying for graduate school to come to UC Berkeley and join our SACNAS group. In addition, the SACNAS chapter was involved in planning a tour in San Francisco that included visiting landmark places and organizing a dinner with all the attendees in a San Francisco restaurant. November 2007. International Latino Film Festival. We traveled to San Francisco to support Latino film screenings. October 11-14, 2007. SACNAS National Conference, Kansas City, MO. We presented our research and also helped recruit students to UC Berkeley graduate programs. October 2007. "Last Minute NSF Application Tips" Workshop. We held a workshop to provide advice on the NSF GRFP fellowship application. September 2007. Bowling Night Social. August 2007. First Meeting. For our first official chapter meeting we were fortunate to have Judit Camacho, the Executive Director of the national SACNAS organization, come to speak to us about SACNAS, its history, and our goals. Other special guests included Dean Szeri and Collette Patt, to name just a few. April 2007. Week Without Walls Day. Chapter members invited local high school students to campus and held workshops, Q&A sessions, and lab demonstrations. |
Past Events |