Survey Record

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QuestionAnswer
Does your Society have goals and/or measurable objectives that guide establishment of programsYes
If so, please provide a short descriptionSharing Knowledge in and about Biophysics; Fostering a Global Community; Supporting the Next Generation; and Advocating for Biophysics
What is the name of your society?Biophysical Society
What is the name of your society's diversity-related program or activity?Speed Networking
Please provide a link to description of the program if it still ongoing or only recently ended:https://www.biophysics.org/2020meeting/program/professional-development-networking
What year did the program start? (YYYY):2017
What year did the program end, if not ongoing (YYYY):ongoing
If the program is not continuing, why not?
Target populationUndergrad, Postbac, Grad, Postdoc
If other, please specify:
Brief description of the program:"Speed dating" style networking session. Faculty and scientists in industry & government ("mentors") sit at small tables and students and postdocs ("mentees") sit across from them for a brief networking session. Scheduled before dinner time so that attendees can continue conversations.
What led you to the start the program?Requests for more structured networking events and brainstorming from our Education Committee, who lead planning on this program
What is the theory or logic underlying the program design?More unstructured networking sessions are helpful, but it's easier to approach a peer. This structure allows trainees to feel safe approaching people who might otherwise seem intimidating, and to talk to people with a variety of experiences, who they might not encounter.
Is there a formal logic model? If so, please upload here.
What are the goals and measurable objectives of the program?Participation of at least 20 mentors and mentees; positive evaluations in session survey.
How many participants were/are there either annually or for a one-time event?40-50 participants (designed to be a relatively small event)
Describe how the program was assessed/evaluated.Surveys
Please describe (other):
What were the conclusions drawn from the evaluation?Very positive responses from both mentors and mentees. Many mentors have participated year after year. Recruiting of mentors has improved after requests for more representatives from industry.
What challenges have been encountered?Recruiting varied mentors is a challenge, and making sure we have enough mentors for the number of students/postdocs (pre-registration is recommended). In some years there has been a 2:1 mentee to mentor ratio, which is not ideal but is manageable.
Is there any long-term outcome tracking of participants?No
If so, what is being tracked?
How has the program evolved over time?The structure has remained the same, but it has grown and we've prioritized diversity of mentors, as well as making sure they represent a variety of career paths. We have also made an effort to place it in a high-traffic area to encourage walk-ins.
If you were to give advice to another group considering a program like this, what would you tell them?Make sure to recruit more mentors than you think you may need.
How much did the program cost/year?The only costs are rental of tables and chairs and A/V equipment. Varies by convention center, but pretty minimal costs.
Where does funding for the program come from?The Education Committee's budget (which is funded by membership dues, meeting registrations, etc.)
Who are/were the primary individuals who contributed to the design and/or delivery of the program or activity?The Education Committee plans and spearheads, and members of other committees are recruited as mentors.
Are there any formal reports or publications that have come out of the program?No
If so, please upload here
or provide a link to where they reside
Who can be contacted for more information about the program?Laura Phelan (lphelan@biophysics.org) or Joon Kwak (jkwak@biophysics.org)