Below you can find detailed descriptions of all of the sessions at this year’s Assembly, including who’s running it, how interactive it is, whether it involves any “heavy” topics, and whether it will be recorded.
In addition, all days have time set aside for Site Planning/Check-in. This is time that is available for you to meet with other members of your site to plan what session you will each go to, discuss what you’ve learned, plan for the coming year, etc.
Finally, we have a Full Group Check-in on Friday and Saturday. These are opportunities for the Assembly team to check in with attendees about how the Assembly is going and see if there is anything that we can do to make your Assembly experience better.
Day 1 (Thursday, June 18)
Introduction to the Access Network
Leaders: Joel Corbo
Interactivity Level: Low
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: Yes
This session is particularly for people who are new to the Access Network. You learn a bit about the history of Access, the sites in the Network, the different roles that people in the Network play, and so on. Please come with questions!
Welcome, Orientation, and Norms
Leaders: Joel Corbo, Alison Duck
Interactivity Level: Low
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: Yes
Welcome to the Assembly! We will use this time to orient you to the Assembly: go over the schedule, discuss the code of conduct, and introduce some norms. Please make every effort to attend this session.
Site Poster Session
Leaders: Members of individual sites
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: Up to the individual sites
Sites will present posters describing themselves as a way to learn about all of the cool stuff happening at other sites. The session will be divided into two parts; half of the sites will present during the first part and the other half will present during the second part.
After Hours Fun: Digital Escape Room
Leaders: Joel Corbo
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: No
Do you like escape rooms? Have you wanted to try one but haven’t had the chance? This is a great opportunity to try a play-at-home escape room from the comfort of your computer. We will be playing The Lost Temple by CU Adventures in Time and Space (the folks whose escape rooms we played in person at last year’s Assembly). We will randomly break into teams of 4ish people using Zoom breakout rooms. No experience is required, so please join us!
Day 2 (Friday, June 19)
Social Justice Vocabulary Game
Leaders: Alison Duck
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: No
An interactive vocabulary activity to help Assembly attendees learn words in from Access’s Social Justice Glossary. The game will use this Quizlet deck of flashcards.
Science Communication (Part I)
Leaders: Donny Horton-Bailey, Rachael Klaiss
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: ???????
As scientists, part of our job is communicating the work we do to a wide range of people. This session will begin with group discussions about the situations and methods in which we communicate science. Then, participants will work in small groups to identify intended audience for various content types and discuss the successes and failures of various means of communicating science.
Stress Management Workshop
Leaders: Mikayla Bulson, Athena Gerardo
Interactivity Level: Moderate/High
Heavy Topics: Yes (causes of stress, mental health issues, and unhealthy ways of dealing with stress)
Recorded: No
Everyone knows the past few months have been stressful. Participants will reflect on their experiences with stress and determine if their coping mechanisms are healthy or have room for improvement. We will also offer some healthy ways to deal with stress for those who need help coming up with ideas that will work for them.
Gatekeeping in Marginalized Groups Panel
Leaders: Mackenzie Carlson, Kathleen Hamilton-Campos
Interactivity Level: Moderate (most of this session will be Q&A with questions from the audience, but participation is not required)
Heavy Topics: Yes (discussion of discrimination and harassment including first person perspectives/stories)
Recorded: ???
Participants will learn the definition and first hand examples of gatekeeping (such as in LGBTQIA+ community and within/between racial groups). They will also be able to share their own experiences or experiences they know of.
Balancing Leadership Roles and Well Being
Leaders: Gabrielle Jones-Hall, Rachael Klaiss
Interactivity Level: Low
Heavy Topics: Possible discussion of mental health and burden on women and underrepresented minorities to take on leadership roles in order to enact change
Recorded: ?????
Participants will reflect on their responsibilities and commitments, and learn how to balance activities with multiple levels of priority. We will also discuss how to check in with yourself and decide when there’s enough on your plate.
Language and the Gender Binary
Leaders: Mackenzie Carlson, Kathleen Hamilton-Campos
Interactivity Level: Low/moderate (space will be made for active discussion/questions from audience, but participation is optional)
Heavy Topics: Yes (discussion of transphobia, misogyny, and homophobia)
Recorded: Yes
This discussion-heavy talk will inform participants about the aspects of sex and gender (biological sex, gender identity, and gender expression) including trans identities. Societal influences will be discussed with emphasis on the reinforcement of the gender binary. A review of trans-affirming and gender neutral language will be given with specific application to academic environments. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions or share experiences/perspectives.
Game Room
Leaders: Alison Duck
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: No
Join us for some games and to get to know your fellow Assembly Attendees!
After Hours Fun: Game Night
Leaders: Alison Duck
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: No
Join us for some games and to get to know your fellow Assembly Attendees!
Day 3 (Saturday, June 20)
Reflection on Anti-Black Racism
Leaders: Joel Corbo, Alison Duck, Karmela Padavic-Callaghan
Interactivity Level: Low
Heavy Topics: Yes (descriptions of police brutality, white supremacy, etc).
Recorded: Yes
The recent public examples of anti-Black racism and police brutality—including the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery—are just some of the tragic outcomes of the United States’ long history of white supremacy. In this session, we will hear from two Black women about their experiences and perspectives with these topics through watching two YouTube videos together. We will then focus on personal reflections, through free writing, as a way to process these speakers’ words. We will not be engaging in conversation during this session, but we hope that the videos and personal reflections will inform other conversations at the Assembly.
Improving Inclusion and Diversity of Religion in STEM
Leaders: Tyler McMaken
Interactivity Level: Moderate
Heavy Topics: Participants should be willing to engage in discussions centered around religion and spiritual identity. These discussions will be done with utmost respect, and no one will be required to share about their own religious identity or experiences.
Recorded: Yes
In this session structured after CU-Prime’s diversity workshop model, participants will learn about the importance and need for creating an inclusive and diverse religious environment within STEM communities, through both large-group discussion and small-group scenario-based activities.
Toxic Relationships in Academia
Leaders: Lydon Bindal
Interactivity Level: Low to medium
Heavy Topics: Yes
Recorded: No
Through this panel discussion, participants will learn about different kinds of unhealthy or damaging intrapersonal dynamics that can happen in academia, how it can affect them, and how they can handle those situations proactively, such that they can minimize risks to themselves emotionally and academically.
Note that this session is scheduled for 90 minutes, but it will contain a 15-minute break.
Introduction to Being a Core Organizer
Leaders: Ben Pollard
Interactivity Level: Low/Moderate
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: Yes
Are you interested in becoming involved with the leadership of the Access Network? Do you want to learn more about the new process for how to become a Core Organizer (CO)? Come learn about the activities and responsibilities of the Core Organizers and how to join the CO team!
Science Writing Workshop (Part II)
Leaders: Ryan Bailey-Crandell, Rachael Klaiss
Interactivity Level: Moderate
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: ??????
Participants will learn about story & outline structure and writing principles to apply to their own scientific writing. These will be practiced during writing exercises. We ask that participants come prepared with a figure from a science textbook, journal article, or their own research that they will use as the starting point for writing exercises.
Transfer Student Panel
Leaders: Mackenzie Carlson, Kathleen Hamilton-Campos
Interactivity Level: Moderate
Heavy Topics: None planned, although panelists may bring up issues of isolation, non-acceptance from departments and families, homelessness, and abusive personal relationships
Recorded: Yes
A panel of transfer students will talk about their experiences with the process and give suggestions for how departments can better support these less traditional students; audience questions will be encouraged.
The Importance of Hobbies
Leaders: Mikayla Bulson, Gabrielle Jones-Hall, Tyler McMaken
Interactivity Level: Moderate/ High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: No
Participants are invited to join a discussion-based workshop centered around the topic of hobbies. We will cover what a hobby actually is and give participants time to reflect on other topical prompts. Overall, the agenda is to think about how one’s work life in STEM can benefit from having hobbies.
After Hours Fun: Hobby Chat
Leaders: Mikayla Bulson, Gabrielle Jones-Hall, Tyler McMaken
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: No
Recorded: No
Bring your hobbies for a casual show and tell and learn about different activities others do in their free time!
Day 4 (Sunday, June 21)
An Exercise in Narratives
Leaders: Ryan Bailey-Crandell
Interactivity Level: Moderate
Heavy Topics: Not planned. The content is dictated by the participants, so heavy topics may be brought up.
Recorded: Yes
First, participants will identify communities they are a part of. Then they will explore and discuss how the stories they tell about their communities affects how they perceive themselves and others.
Restart/Refresh/Rebuild/Recruit/Retain (R^5) Your Site
Leaders: Donny Horton-Bailey, Tyler McMaken
Interactivity Level: Moderate
Heavy Topics: None
Recorded: No
Over time, many sites will encounter circumstances that may require changes in programming, funding and may also affect leadership and overall participation. In this workshop, participants will brainstorm various strategies for overcoming obstacles that may negatively affect a site, using real-life scenarios based on each site’s experiences.
The Future of Access
Leaders: Brianne Gutmann, Gina Quan, Chandra Turpen
Interactivity Level: High
Heavy Topics: Variable (on an opt-in basis)
Recorded: No
In this session, participants will learn about the Access budget, reflect on the activism we’ve been engaging in, and develop proposal ideas for spending the excess funds. There will be a structured activity where people collectively generate ideas for proposals.
Breakouts by Access Role
Leaders: Various
Interactivity Level: Varied
Heavy Topics: None
Recorded: No
This session provides an opportunity for the Assembly Fellow team to reflect on how this year’s Assembly went, for the Network Fellow team to coordinate on any action items that emerged for them over the course of the Assembly, and for everyone else to provide feedback on the Assembly that will be valuable for next year’s planning.