91亚色传媒

Transforming undergraduate education in the molecular life sciences

Re-examining what we teach and how we teach it

July 24–27, 2025
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minn.

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Join us for a small interactive education-focused 91亚色传媒 meeting to re-examine existing practice and develop new engaging approaches to supporting student success in biochemistry and molecular biology. Reconnect with peers, meet new colleagues and increase your network of education-minded professionals while exploring the Twin Cities.

Talks and panel discussions will include sessions on the skills, competencies and key concepts we teach through biochemistry and molecular biology content, as well as on the pedagogical approaches that lead to student achievement. Each day will begin with a keynote talk on topics such as culturally-responsive pedagogy, an indigenized chemistry curriculum, alternative grading practices and fidelity of implementation. Keynotes will be followed by panel discussions and break-out sessions, with opportunities to learn about several education-focused NSF-funded projects, including CUREs, assessment, case-based learning and biomolecular visualization. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet with program directors to learn about funding opportunities for education projects.

Anyone interested in biochemistry and molecular biology education 鈥 from experienced practitioners to postdocs and graduate students considering careers involving teaching 鈥 is encouraged to attend.

Important dates

May 20 Early registration deadline
May 20 Abstract submission deadline
June 24 Regular registration deadline

Organizers

Carleton College
Chapman University
St. Olaf College
Betsy Martinez鈥揤az Hamline University

Registration

91亚色传媒 members will receive a $50 discount on their registration fee which will be applied during checkout Not a member? Join the 91亚色传媒 and save!

 
  Early registration
(by May 20)
Regular registration
(by June 24)
Faculty or equivalent with single lodging $875 $925
Faculty or equivalent with double lodging
(shared room with another meeting attendee)
$825 $875
Faculty or equivalent commuter
(no lodging)
$700 $750
Trainee: Graduate student or postdoc with double lodging
(shared room with another meeting attendee)
$650 $700
Trainee: Graduate student or postdoc commuter
(no lodging)
$450 $500

NOTE: Registration is on a first come, first served basis and will remain open until capacity is reached. This may mean that the conference registration closes before the officially posted registration deadline. To secure your spot at the conference, we encourage you to register early.

What’s included

  • All sessions, poster sessions and meeting materials
  • Lodging for 3 nights (arriving on July 24, departing on July 27) in on-campus housing at Macalester College.
  • The following meals are included in your registration fee:
    • Thursday, July 24: Dinner
    • Friday, July 25: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
    • Saturday, July 26: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
    • Sunday, July 27: Breakfast

Note: Lodging is not included in the commuter rates.

Lodging

Lodging arrangements will be made in on-campus housing. All housing arrangements must be made through 91亚色传媒 during the registration process.

If you require an early arrival or late departure (one night pre- and/or post-meeting) you may purchase these additional nights during the registration process for $45 per room per night.

Registration changes

Registration changes will be accepted as space allows until June 24, 2025, and can be made by contacting meetings@asbmb.org.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations received in writing on or before June 24, 2025, are subject to a $100 processing fee. No refunds will be issued for cancellations after June 24 due to final guarantee commitments. Email meetings@asbmb.org and attach a copy of your meeting registration receipt/paid invoice to cancel your registration.

Location

The conference will be held at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn.  

Visas

All individuals traveling from outside of the United States should apply for a visa as soon as possible and at least four to five months prior to their date of travel.

  • The most up-to-date information about traveling to the U.S. can be found at the .
  • Scientists visiting the U.S. may find helpful information at the .
  • .

Please do not wait until you receive your registration confirmation before applying for a visa. We encourage you to apply for your visa right away if you are considering attending to avoid delays and longer than anticipated wait times.

If you need a letter of invitation for your visa process, please email meetings@asbmb.org.

  • Please include ‘LETTER OF INVITATION’ as the subject line of this email.
  • Body of email must include:
    • Your name as it appears on your passport
    • Your affiliation and mailing address
    • Best contact number and email address

Health and safety

Mask-wearing and other health and safety measures will be determined based on local, state and venue guidelines and will be communicated to attendees prior to the conference.

Program schedule

Thursday July 24
Friday July 25
Saturday July 26
Sunday July 27

Thursday agenda

12:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Name badge pickup

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Pre-conference programming for trainees

(by invitation)

5:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Welcome remarks and preview of meeting themes and activities

6:00 PM - 6:45 PM

Dinner

6:45 PM - 7:45 PM

Keynote

Culturally-responsive pedagogy to support student success
Laurell Malone, North Carolina Central University
7:45 PM - 8:30 PM

Small group discussion

Who are our students? What goals do we have in our classes?

Friday agenda

7:30 AM - 8:20 AM

Grab-and-go breakfast

7:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Name badge pickup

8:30 AM - 9:35 AM

Plenary

Creation of an indigenized chemistry curriculum
Bev Devore–Wedding, Nebraska Indian Community College
Mark Griep, University of NebraskaLincoln

9:45 AM - 10:35 AM

Practitioner panel: What we teach

Rou-Jia Sung, Carleton College
Jenny Loertscher, Seattle University
Pam Mertz, St. Mary's College of Maryland

10:45 AM - 10:50 AM

Group photograph

11:00 AM - 11:20 AM

Coffee break

11:30 AM - 11:50 AM

Short talks

Using CRISPR to teach the fundamentals of gene expression and splicing using known human disease-causing mutations
Lynn Kee, Stetson University
Biochemistry for solving world problems: A final project
Emily Ruff, Winona State University
Active learning to build scientific communication competencies in undergraduate researchers
Erin Drolet, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Investigating the influence of one-on-one sessions with students who have previously encountered academic setbacks on their academic performance and overall success within the course
Didier Mena Aguilar, University of Nebraska鈥揕incoln
11:55 AM - 12:15 PM

Short talks

Native gel electrophoresis: Teaching the principles and optimization
Blair R. Szymczyna, Boston University
Incorporating sustainability concepts into a biochemistry course
Rebecca Connor, Dickinson College
Visualizing biochemical reactions: Empowering students through PyMOL and Zoom-based video projects
Rico Acevedo, Westfield State University
Models of mentored learning within a social constructivist pedagogy
Dan Dries, Chapman University
12:30 PM - 1:20 PM

Lunch tables with themes

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Conversations: How we teach I

  • Active learning strategies
  • Alternative grading
  • AI in the classroom
  • Designing curricula to meet student needs
  • CUREs and inquiry-based labs
2:30 PM - 3:20 PM

Conversations: How we teach II

  • Learning in teams
  • Alternative grading
  • AI in the classroom
  • Designing curricula to meet student needs
  • CUREs and inquiry-based labs
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Afternoon break

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Poster reception

Odd-numbered boards presented from 4:30–5:15 p.m.
Even-numbered boards presented from 5:15–6 p.m.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Dinner

Saturday agenda

7:30 AM - 8:20 AM

Grab-and-go breakfast

7:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Name badge pickup

8:30 AM - 9:35 AM

Plenary

Grading: The (mis)use of mathematics in the measurement of student learning and what we can do about it
Sharona Krinsky, California State University, Los Angeles
9:45 AM - 10:35 AM

Practitioner panel: How we teach

Alex Ajayi, University of Minnesota
Will Howitz, University of Minnesota
Dawn Foster–HarnettUniversity of Minnesota

10:45 AM - 11:10 AM

Coffee break

11:20 AM - 11:50 AM

Short talks

Physical models and manipulatives for challenging nucleic acid structural concepts
Ann Taylor, Wabash College
Using the C.R.E.A.T.E approach to teach skills in primary literature analysis for biochemistry
Rou-Jia Sung, Carleton College
Introducing the building blocks of life: Implementing a guided and team-based learning approach to the amino acids
Kyli Berkley, University of Illinois Chicago
Using a jigsaw activity to preview organic nomenclature in General Chemistry II
Lance English, Temple College
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM

Lunch tables with themes

1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

Demos of classroom activities I

  • A cellular respiration murder mystery
  • Pathways, puzzles and play
  • Hands-on (and inexpensive) activities
  • Reimagining metabolism: Engaging strategies to teach pathways
  • Generative AI in biochemistry
2:00 PM - 2:50 PM

Demos of classroom activities II

  • A cellular respiration murder mystery
  • Pathways, puzzles and play
  • Hands-on (and inexpensive) activities
  • Reimagining metabolism: Engaging strategies to teach pathways
  • Demonstrating primer design essentials through a kinesthetic activity
3:00 PM - 3:10 PM

Coffee break

3:15 PM - 4:45 PM

Levers for change: Enacting the AAAS 鈥淰ision & Change鈥

4:45 PM - 5:30 PM

Afternoon break

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM

Dinner

Sunday agenda

7:30 AM - 8:20 AM

Grab-and-go breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:20 AM

Plenary

Putting theory into practice: Strategies for change
Tessa Andrews, University of Georgia
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Small group discussion: Best laid plans and fidelity of implementation

Dan Dries, Jess Bell, Mike Wolyniak, Betsy Martinez–Vaz, Regina Stevens–Truss

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Coffee break

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Small-group discussion: Where do we go from here?

Betsy Martinez–Vaz, Joe Chihade, Dan Dries, and Laura Listenberger

11:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Science advocacy

Sarina Neote, 91亚色传媒 Director of Public Affairs

11:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Closing remarks