Miami, Sept. 18, 2017 – The School of Science at Miami Dade College’s (MDC) North Campus will host three days of events focused on the training and recognition of up and coming researchers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Schedule of events as follows:
On Thursday, Sept. 21, more than seventy students will officially be inducted into MDC’s Bachelor of Science in the Biological Sciences (BS-BS) program during the annual White Coat Ceremony. During the event, students and other attendees will hear inspirational alumni reflections from MDC alumnus Dmitri St. Surin (Altor BioScience) and Armando Garcia, PA from Acevedo Medical Group, both currently working in the biopharmaceutical industry. The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Daniel Wubah, a biology professor from Washington and Lee University. Dr. Wubah has spent years helping students reach their goals through his roles as a professor and administrator at numerous institutions of higher learning. He will be speaking about the role of science and scientists in today’s changing world.
Events on Friday, Sept. 22 will focus on the myriad of ways that faculty can serve and motivate students within the STEM fields. Dr. Mary Crowe, the Associate Provost of Experiential Education at Florida Southern College, will be presenting a professional development workshop for the faculty of MDC focusing on teaching and service excellence. This workshop will help the professors explore various teaching and leadership styles as well as the idea of being a “servant leader”.
The culminating event of the three-day series will be the sixth annual MDC School of Science STEM Research Symposium, which will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23rd. The one-of-a-kind symposium will feature the original research of more than 100 MDC students who worked alongside top scientists from MDC, the University of Florida, Nova Southeastern University, the University of Miami, and St. Thomas University, as part of the School’s Summer Research Institute. These high-quality research projects cover a wide variety of fields, including biology, physics, chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and genetics. All interns will present their research during a conference-style poster session and several students will give oral presentations of their work as well. Dr. Mary Crowe will serve as the Symposium’s keynote speaker.
The Undergraduate Summer Research Program and the associated Symposium are often the first opportunity for MDC students to experience life as a STEM professional. Through these activities, they learn the steps needed to take a research question from the first stages of the scientific method through the process of research and analysis and finally to presentation of results. This experience has proven invaluable to previous participants, many of whom have continued on to pursue advanced degrees in the STEM fields or have already joined the workforce in these areas.
For more information, please contact the School of Science at 305-237-1101.