Agenda

Women in Science Writing: Solutions Summit

We have a strong agenda planned, including a distinguished panel of speakers, panelists, and facilitators, and a fantastic keynote speaker, Caryl Rivers, setting the tone for a productive conference. Come join us for this remarkable opportunity to make a genuine, forward-moving difference in the professional lives of science writers. Register today. Follow us on Twitter.

Unfamiliar with MIT? See this interactive map here. Signage and conference staff will also provide navigation guidance.

Thursday, June 12

8 p.m. to 10 p.m. SWINACAMA
Informal, business-free meeting activity with SWINACAMA (Science Writers IN and Around Cambridge, MA) for early arrivals and local attendees. Meetup place is Meadhall, very close to campus.

Friday, June 13

2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tour of the Paul S. Russell MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital
For those arriving midday Friday, join us for a look at Mass General’s 200 years of innovation in research and care—from the first use of ether in 1846 to current advances in tissue engineering, disaster medicine, and more! We will meet in the museum lobby at 2 p.m. Walking map from hotel to museum available here. Address is 2 North Grove Street.

5:00 to 7:30 Registration
Location E14-633, the new Media Lab building, corner of Ames and Amherst streets. Map here.

5:30 to 8:00 Keynote and reception
Keynote speaker (5:30 p.m.): Caryl Rivers
Location E14-633 for keynote, the new Media Lab building, corner of Ames and Amherst streets. Reception next door. Map here.

Saturday, June 14

8:00 a.m. Registration
Location Outside of 6-120. Walking map from hotel to meeting venue is here.

8:00 to 8:40 a.m. Coffee and continental breakfast
Free for registered attendees.
Location Outside of 6-120

8:45 to 9:55 a.m. Plenary
Discussion of results of an online scientific survey on harassment and representation distributed to science writers, including members of the National Association of Science Writers, the Society of Environmental Journalists, and the Association of Health Care Journalists. Conducted by researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and presented by the conference organizers.
Location 6-120

10:00 a.m. to noon Concurrent sessions on sexual harassment and on diversity
Consultant Debora Bloom will be leading the sexual harassment discussion for half of the conference attendees (last name initial A through K), bringing her 25 years of experience in harassment prevention and workforce diversity to this workshop session. At the same time, Gwen Cochran Hadden will be working with the other half of the attendee group (last name initial L through Z), focusing on issues of workforce diversity and inclusion, bringing her almost three decades of experience as a trainer and consultant in these areas.
Location 4-149 and 4-153

Noon to 1:20 p.m. Lunch
Free for registered attendees.
Location Outside of 6-120

1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Concurrent sessions on harassment and on diversity
Attendee groups reversed from morning session.
Location 4-149 and 4-153

3:30 to 3:55 p.m. Coffee break
Location Outside of 6-120

4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mentoring panel and Q&A
Panelists include Laura Helmuth, Science and Health Editor at Slate; Apoorva Mandavilli, Executive Editor, SFARI, and Gwen Pearson, science writer and a.k.a. Bug Girl, Wired.com. In addition to panelist discussion about their experiences mentoring and being mentored, the session will center on the perspective of being a member of an underrepresented population from both sides of that equation–specific considerations for mentees and what mentors can consciously do to work toward more equitable representation. What are the needs of specific underrepresented populations when it comes to serving as a source of guidance, wisdom, and support for early career writers?”
Location 6-120

6 p.m. Dinner/explore Cambridge and Boston
On your own. A list of options is available here and will be provided in your registration materials.

Sunday, June 15

8:00 to 8:55 a.m. Coffee and continental breakfast
Free for registered attendees.
Location Outside of 6-120

9:00 a.m. to 11:55 Plenary and workshop breakouts
Plenary: Summary remarks and orientation to workshop expectations followed by crowdsourcing ideas for resource development. Workshop: Will involve and breakouts into planned groups (sign up at registration) for resources development and drafting; participation is requested, encouraged, and appreciated but optional; attendees who cannot participate and those who could not attend the conference also can contribute to this resource development after the conference. Reconvene in plenary for summaries and closing.
Moderators/facilitators: Rachelle Burks, Siri Carpenter, and Kelly Hills

Location 6-120 for plenary and closing; 4-149 and 4-159 for breakouts

Noon Conference close

1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Briefing on the conference at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to the New England Science Writers Association, 7 Cambridge Center. Refreshments. Limit 30 registrants.

This site powered by a generous IDEA grant from the National Association of Science Writers.