Events: April 5, 2011


Registration and Welcome

8:30 AM to 9:15 AM; Mountainlair Blue Ballroom

Brian Anderson, assistant professor in WVU’s Department of Chemical Engineering.


Citizen Science Plenary

9:30 AM to 11:00 AM; Mountainlair Blue Ballroom

This event is offered to all symposium attendees. Pre-registration is required.

Members of the Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology Network will present a participatory discussion on how citizens can be directly involved in science and technology policy making. Read more....


Special Webcast Presentations

9:00 AM to 11:00 AM; Greenbrier Room

Sounds from Beyond: Introduction to Pseudoscience and Critical Thinking Special presentation for select middle school science classes by award-winning science podcast host Brian Dunning.

Solving the Missing Cosmonauts: Introduction to Critical Thinking Special presentation for select high school science classes by award-winning science podcast host Brian Dunning.

These presentations are being live-streamed to more than 30 middle and high school classrooms across West Virginia.


Workshops: Round 1

11:15 AM to 12:15 PM

The following workshop options are concurrently offered. Pre-registration is required.

The Process of Science and Scientific Controversy presented by Steven Newton and Josh Rosenau, both Programs and Policy Directors for the National Center for Science Education

Rhododendron Room

WVU Research Highlights: CITeR project, Carbon capture and storage, Alternative Energy designs

Laurel Room

Best Practices of Science Education: Higher Education presented by Dr. Michele Withers, Assistant Professor in WVU’s Department of Biology, whose efforts include to provide training for teachers and faculty in the most effective, evidence-based teaching strategies

Monongahela Room

Lunch and Presentation of the Harley Kilgore Award

12:30 PM; Mountainlair Gold Ballroom

Lunch is provided by West Virginia University.

The Kilgore Award will recognize promotion of understanding of science and research.


Workshops: Round 2

1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

The following workshop options are concurrently offered. Pre-registration is required.

Media Skills for Scientists presented by Steven Newton and Josh Rosenau, both Programs and Policy Directors for the National Center for Science Education

Laurel Room

F. Talking to the Scientist: Skills for Members of the Media presented by Cheryl Hogue, Senior Correspondent for “Chemical and Engineering News,” a weekly magazine published by the American Chemical Society.

Rhododendron Room

Best Practices of Science Education: Secondary Education presented by Dr. Michele Withers, Assistant Professor in WVU’s Department of Biology, whose efforts include to provide training for teachers and faculty in the most effective, evidence-based teaching strategies

Monongahela Room

Usable Science: Workshop on Science for Decision Making presented by Genevieve Maricle, an American Association for the Advancement of Science Diplomacy Fellow with the USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and Dr. Elizabeth McNie, Assistant Professor of Political Science and Earth & Atmospheric Sciences at Purdue University

Mountaineer Room

Research Poster Session and Exhibits with Refreshments

For Undergraduate and Graduate Students

3:30 PM to 5:00 PM; Mountainlair Gold Ballroom

Undergraduate and graduate students will present their research, and symposium attendees are invited to browse. Featured poster titles and abstracts are available here.


Keynote and Festival of Ideas Lecture

Sheril Kirshenbaum: Unscientific America

7:30 PM; Mountainlair Ballrooms

Sheril Kirshenbaum deliver’s the keynote lecture by discussing her book, Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future. Read more...