Virtual Events and Webinars

Virtual Events and Webinars

Scheduled and Recent Events

Graduate Student Career Steps Webinar Series #7

Friday, January 30, 2026
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET / 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm CT

Navigating the transition from graduate studies to a fulfilling career can feel overwhelming. With countless possibilities - academia, industry, government, non-profits, and beyond - graduate students often find themselves uncertain about which path to pursue or how to begin.

The Graduate Student Committee recognizes this challenge and is proud to organize the Career Steps Webinar Series, an engaging, monthly webinar series designed to illuminate multiple career trajectories, offer practical guidance, and foster meaningful connections within the NARST community. This webinar series features accomplished PhDs and seasoned NARST members who have traversed the journey you are beginning. By sharing their personal stories - complete with challenges, pivotal moments, and unexpected opportunities - our speakers bring to life the myriad routes to career success.

More than mere inspiration, these sessions provide concrete strategies, resources, and networks you can leverage as you craft your own path. After all, one meaningful connection can be the spark that redefines your career trajectory.

Meet your Speaker: 
Dr. Travis Weiland, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Registration Link: 
https://members.narst.org/event/Career-Steps-Series7 

Connecting to Science Knowledge through Storytelling from Around the World

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm CT

Join science educators and researchers who are engaged in work focused on Indigenous science, knowledge, and community-based research. This series of four webinars is hosted by the Indigenous Science Knowledge Research Interest Group and is open to all NARST members.

This first session will focus on storytelling and narrative within Indigenous research methodologies. There will be opportunities for sharing and discussing projects and future collaborations in preparation for the 2027 NARST conference.

Meet your Speakers:
Julie Robinson, University of North Dakota 
Pauline Chinn, University of Hawaii at Manoa 
Carley Malloy, Dartmouth College 
Piata Allen, University of Auckland 
Peresang Sukinarhimi, National Sun Yat-sen University

Registration Link: 
https://members.narst.org/event/Science-Through-Storytelling

Graduate Student Career Steps Webinar Series #8

Friday, February 27, 2026 
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET / 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CT

Navigating the transition from graduate studies to a fulfilling career can feel overwhelming. With countless possibilities - academia, industry, government, non-profits, and beyond - graduate students often find themselves uncertain about which path to pursue or how to begin.

The Graduate Student Committee recognizes this challenge and is proud to organize the Career Steps Webinar Series, an engaging, monthly webinar series designed to illuminate multiple career trajectories, offer practical guidance, and foster meaningful connections within the NARST community. This webinar series features accomplished PhDs and seasoned NARST members who have traversed the journey you are beginning. By sharing their personal stories - complete with challenges, pivotal moments, and unexpected opportunities - our speakers bring to life the myriad routes to career success.

More than mere inspiration, these sessions provide concrete strategies, resources, and networks you can leverage as you craft your own path. After all, one meaningful connection can be the spark that redefines your career trajectory.

Meet your Speaker: 
Dr. Chandra Orrill, Executive Director for Research & Development Rethink Learning Labs

Registration Link: 
https://members.narst.org/event/Career-Steps-Series8

Introduction to Accessible Design for Posters and Presentations

Friday, March 20, 2026 
3:00 pm – 4:15 pm ET / 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm CT

This session introduces members to accessible design for posters and presentations. This will include size, font, colors, layout, and more.

Presenters will review best practices and considerations for making accessible conference materials. Use this information as you are preparing your NARST Conference presentations.

Meet your Speaker: 
Ronan Rock, University of Illinois Chicago

Registration Link: 
https://members.narst.org/event/Accessible-Design

Queer Ecology and Gender-Affirming Biology

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 
11:00 am – 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am – 12:00 pm CT

In this online workshop, we describe the design and enactment of an interdisciplinary STEM course – Queer Ecologies and Gender Affirming Biology for pre- and in-service educators.

We will share background knowledge and engage with data to make claims about the diversity of sex, gender, and sexuality in the natural world (including humans) as we ask, how can we move away from “single story” dominant disciplinary narratives of sex, gender and sexuality towards more accurate as well as equitable disciplinary ways of knowing?

Meet your Speakers: 
Veronica Cassone McGowan, PhD, University of Washington Bothell
Bryan White, PhD, University of Washington Bothell
Carrie Tzou, PhD, Northwestern University
Symone Gyles, University of California Irvine
Elizabeth Starks, University of Washington Bothell

Registration Link: 
https://members.narst.org/event/Queer-Ecology

API RIG Spring 2026 Virtual Town Hall

Wednesday, March 25, 2026
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET / 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm CT

Participate in this virtual town hall for API RIG members to come together to discuss issues pertaining to their scholarship, career, and anticipations for the upcoming NARST conference.

API RIG Leadership will Facilitate: 
Edna Tan, Chair 
Rishi Krishnamoorthy, Co-Chair 
Jooyoung Jeon, Secretary 
Myeongji Kim, Treasurer 
Mila Rosa Carden, Steering committee co-chair 
Jianlan Wang, Steering committee co-chair 
Sam Lee, Steering committee member

Registration Link: 
https://members.narst.org/event/API-Virtual-Town-Hall

Graduate Student Career Steps Webinar Series #9

Friday, March 27, 2026 
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET / 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CT

Navigating the transition from graduate studies to a fulfilling career can feel overwhelming. With countless possibilities - academia, industry, government, non-profits, and beyond - graduate students often find themselves uncertain about which path to pursue or how to begin.

The Graduate Student Committee recognizes this challenge and is proud to organize the Career Steps Webinar Series, an engaging, monthly webinar series designed to illuminate multiple career trajectories, offer practical guidance, and foster meaningful connections within the NARST community. This webinar series features accomplished PhDs and seasoned NARST members who have traversed the journey you are beginning. By sharing their personal stories - complete with challenges, pivotal moments, and unexpected opportunities - our speakers bring to life the myriad routes to career success.

More than mere inspiration, these sessions provide concrete strategies, resources, and networks you can leverage as you craft your own path. After all, one meaningful connection can be the spark that redefines your career trajectory.

Meet your Speaker: 
Dr. Jeremy Roschelle, Executive Director, Digital Promise's Learning Sciences Research Team Podcast Host, Future Fluent Podcast

Registration Link: 
https://members.narst.org/event/Career-Steps-Series9

Creating Inclusive Learning Experiences Through Authentic Assessment

Asynchronous Webinar
Length: 2 hours
View Event Video (members only)

This asynchronous session introduces authentic assessment (AA) as a framework for creating inclusive, real-world learning experiences in STEM classrooms. Drawing on educational research and disciplinary examples, participants will explore what makes an assessment “authentic,” how to scaffold inclusive assessment design, and how to respond to common concerns, such as rigor, knowledge retention, and additional grading responsibilities. Attendees will engage with the video, templates, and real authentic examples from across science disciplines.

Speakers:
Aradaryn Marsh, Ph.D. Candidate in Engineering and Science Education
Clemson University

Deena Warid, Undergraduate Student in Biochemistry and Genetics
Clemson University