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Happy Fall! With the changing seasons, we're thrilled to bring you the latest updates, accomplishments, and opportunities from SABER. In this Issue: |
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SABER's Statement of Solidarity with the Transgender Community |
The transgender community deserves to feel safe to express their gender no matter where they are. However, recent legislature and biases threaten people's safety and ability to be their authentic selves. In 2023, 600 bills were introduced into federal and state legislatures across the United States that seek to block trans folx from receiving education, basic healthcare, legal recognition, and the human right to publicly exist. We as an academic community stand in solidarity with the transgender community against these tragic injustices. As a biology education organization, we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment to support our students, colleagues, and their families. |
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A Letter from President Miriam Segura
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Fellow SABERites,
I am thrilled to begin my term as president of such an active, respected, and growing research organization. It was exhilarating to spend time with those of you who attended the 2024 annual meeting in July, and to see all the amazing research our members are engaged in.
As we continue our journey to professionalize SABER, we are focused on: - Improving communication between SABER leadership and members through listening sessions focused on aspects of the organization.
- Offering seminars featuring rigorous biology education research or research topics relevant to our members.
- Increasing year-round member engagement with our new professional development in evidence-based teaching series
- diversifying SABER's revenue streams by pursuing new sponsorship and grant opportunities.
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This link also features a selection of photos from the 2024 Annual Meeting |
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The second annual SABER Midwest Regional Meeting was a tremendous success, bringing together over 65 attendees from 17 states at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. This year’s meeting featured an inspiring keynote address by Dr. Terrell Morton, assistant professor of identity and justice in STEM Education at the University of Illinois Chicago, whose talk, “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now: Advancing Biology Education through Radical Hope,” was a highlight of the conference.
Dr. Morton’s powerful message emphasized the importance of fostering inclusivity and justice within STEM education, urging us to embrace “radical hope” as we work to advance biology education. His insights resonated deeply with attendees, sparking thought-provoking discussions and leaving us all motivated to continue pushing for positive change in our field.
The meeting also featured a variety of engaging workshops, collaborative sessions, and thought-leadership from biology education researchers dedicated to improving teaching practices and learning outcomes across institutions.
We are so grateful to everyone who participated and made this event a success. The energy and collaboration throughout the meeting reinforced the strength of our community and the bright future of biology education.
We look forward to continuing this momentum and hope to see even more faces at next year’s SABER Midwest meeting! |
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Register Now for SABER West
Registration is now open for SABER West on Jan 18-19, 2025 in Irvine, CA. For more information, please see the meeting website.
New! SABER members receive a registration discount. To access the discount code, go to www.saberbio.org/SABER-West-Discount. Must be logged in to view. |
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Save the Date for SABER East 2025
The SABER East website is now located on the main SABER website at www.saberbio.org/SABER-East. Details and important dates will be updated soon. |
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Professional Development in Evidence-Based Teaching: Leveraging technology to help students succeed—a conversation with Codon Learning
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Friday, October 18, 2024
11:00 am PT/12:00 pm MT/ 1:00 pm CT/ 2:00 pm ET
Education studies show that high-structure courses can cut grade inequities by 40+%. What’s next after high structure?
Over the course of an hour, we’ll take a deeper dive into three core questions:
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What is high structure and how do we know it promotes equity in student outcomes?
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How can technology help students in high-structure courses spend their study time most productively?
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Can this approach reduce grade inequities even further?
We’ll highlight key literature, share new findings, and give an overview of how Codon Learning leverages technology to promote evidence-based practices at each stage of the learning cycle.
This is a free event! Registration is required.
This seminar is sponsored by |
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Member Listening Session: Aligning Goals for the Next 5 Years |
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
11:00 am PT/12:00 pm MT/ 1:00 pm CT/ 2:00 pm ET
As we build on our 2023-2024 strategic planning, the Executive Committee wants to hear your insights. We invite you to participate in the first of a new series of member listening sessions on Wednesday, October 23, where we will discuss SABER's organizational goals. You'll rank our current goals and discuss priorities for the next 3-5 years. Your input will help shape SABER's future.
This is a free members-only event. All SABER members are welcome to join the discussion! Registration is required. |
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PEER Mentoring Groups Recruiting for 2024-2025 |
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SABER is pleased to announce a mentoring group opportunity offered through the PEER (Persons Excluded due to Ethnicity or Race) SABER committee. The SABER PEER Network is a space where individuals who identify as PEER educators and their allies come together to support one another and drive meaningful change. One such support initiative is the PEER Mentorship Program, whose goal is to connect small groups of mentors and mentees who support one another in the various facets of being an academic (e.g., life work balance, grant writing, navigating politics of academia, the job market, teaching approaches). Although we encourage PEERs and their allies to participate, the program is open to all SABER members. Read on to learn more about this exciting mentoring opportunity! Sign up by October 25 to participate. |
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Opportunities for Committee Service |
Abstract Committee
Seeking a postdoc member
Duties: Assists committee in preparing abstract rubrics and crafting the call for abstracts. May assist in recruiting abstract reviewers and training in abstract writing.
Terms of Service: Up to 3 years
Desired experience or interests: Eligible abstract committee members must have 1) submitted and presented as poster or talk at least one abstract at SABER Annual Meeting AND 2) reviewed SABER abstracts at least once prior to service.
Contact Lisa McDonnell lmcdonnell@ucsd.edu or Claire Meaders cmeaders@ucsd.edu to join.
Annual Conference Committee
Seeking a co-chair
Duties: The Annual Conference Co-chair leads annual conference planning with the Managing Director (co-chair) and support from the past chair, who retains a position on the committee. The co-chair must plan to attend the annual conference (July 10-13, 2025).
The Annual Conference Committee Chair receives the following compensation: a stipend plus travel/hotel and conference registration for the annual conference.
Please contact past chair Jaime Sabel sabel.12@osu.edu with questions about this committee role. If interested in joining, contact Emily Grunspan at emily@saberbio.org.
Awards Committee
Seeking members
Duties: Assists in preparing rubrics and awarding the Bill Wood Award, poster awards, and travel awards. Work primarily takes place in the winter and spring months and leading up to the Annual Conference. Contact co-chairs Liz Barnes Liz.Barnes@mtsu.edu and Amy Kulesza kulesza.5@osu.edu to join. Diversity & Inclusion Committee
Congratulations to newly elected co-chair, Nicole Scheuermann, who will begin her two year term. This committee is always welcoming new members. If you would like to be added to the DEI committee listserv please email Ariel Chasen achasen@utexas.edu. The group meets every 2 weeks on Friday afternoons.
The 2024-2025 committee chairs are listed on the SABER website. Look for more committee information and ways to get involved in the coming months. |
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New Special Interest Group for Faculty at Small Institutions! |
We are excited to invite faculty from small institutions to become part of a vibrant community that understands and supports your unique academic environment. The Small Institution Faculty Special Interest Group (SIG) within SABER is tailored specifically for those who find themselves navigating the distinct challenges of limited resources and wearing multiple hats in academia.
Who Should Join? If you are teaching smaller class sections, conducting your own lab sessions, juggling full teaching loads with extensive advising and committee duties, or teaching at primarily undergraduate or faith-based institutions, this SIG is designed for you. Our group addresses the multifaceted roles our members undertake, providing a network that supports and enriches their professional lives.
What Do We Offer? The Small Institution Faculty SIG offers a platform to connect with like-minded colleagues, share insights, collaborate on research, and integrate the latest educational research into your teaching. Our meetings provide a space to discuss everything from research collaborations to the nuances of balancing multiple roles at smaller institutions.
Meeting Schedule: We convene via Zoom every other month, fostering discussions that help bridge geographic and institutional boundaries. Our second meeting will take place in December, and we are eager to welcome new members who are looking for a community of peers with similar professional experiences.
How to Join: To learn more about the SIG or to be added to our mailing list, please email Dr. Staci N. Johnson at sjohnson@swu.edu. Join us to engage with peers who understand the unique dynamics of small institutions and to discover new opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
We look forward to welcoming you to our SIG and to our upcoming meeting in December. |
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Revamped Job Board Coming November 1st |
The Jobs in Discipline-Based Education Research Board (saberbio.org/Job-Board) is getting a new look, launching November 1, 2024. The updated board will offer keyword, location, salary, and position type search options.
Job postings remain free for members, while non-members will be charged $100 per 30 days. Posts will remain publicly viewable. The current submission forum will close on October 31 and be archived after January 1, 2025.
Stay tuned for more website updates and get ready to explore new opportunities with our enhanced platform. |
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Expanded Donation Options
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Your support enables us to continue advancing our mission. SABER is excited to introduce new donation options, allowing you to choose the specific fund you'd like to support: General Fund: Help sustain all programs and operations to ensure SABER’s long-term success.Travel Awards: Provide vital funding that allows SABER members to attend the Annual Meeting. Professional Development: Support professional development and training opportunities offered to the SABER community. With your generosity, we can continue to empower the SABER community and create lasting impact across all of our initiatives.
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