Biologista Professor Ricardo Hisamoto: Enabling Interdisciplinary and Team Science: A Professional Development Program from AIBS

Dear Colleagues,

Reports abound from professional societies, the Academies, government agencies, and researchers calling attention to the fact that science is increasingly an inter-disciplinary, transdisciplinary, inter-institutional, and international endeavor. In short, science has become a “team sport.”

There is a real and present need to better prepare scientists for success in this new collaborative environment. The American Institute of Biological Sciences is responding to this call with a new program for scientists, educators, and individuals who work with or participate in scientific teams.

Team science is increasingly common in 21st century biological, life, and environmental sciences. Collaboration is no longer limited to sharing ideas with the biologist in the lab next door. The questions confronting science often require teams that may include a mix of computer and information scientists, physical and social scientists, mathematicians, ethicists, policy and management experts, as well as community stakeholders and citizen scientists. Adding to this complexity, teams span programs within organizations, cross organization boundaries to form institutional consortia, and often include international partners.

This intensive, two-day, interactive, professional development course was developed by scientists and experts on collaboration and teamwork to provide participants with the knowledge and skills required to become productive and effective members of scientific teams.

Nothing teaches collaboration like practicing collaboration. This is not a course that asks you to learn in isolation. It is a microcosm of scientific collaboration, with extensive hands-on learning as part of a scientific team, with scientific case studies and examples.

Who should attend?

Research program/lab directors
Scientists and faculty engaged in collaborative projects
Researchers and faculty working at the interface of different fields or scientific approaches
Graduate students and post-docs looking to augment research planning and communication skills
Groups interested in planning successful research proposals and interdisciplinary research teams
Academic, government, and industry scientists

This course is designed for anyone involved in collaborative scientific endeavors. Team leaders will find the course especially helpful. Because participants will work on “real-world” team science concerns, we encourage multiple members of a team to attend together.

Participants will develop and hone the skills needed to:

Explain interdisciplinary team science and characteristics of effective scientific teams
Describe how teams work
Recognize competencies and characteristics of effective team leadership
Create effective teams and team culture
Develop a shared vision, mission, plan, and key performance indicators for a scientific team
Identify and assess the right mix of competencies and people needed for a scientific team
Use team tools and processes such as quality improvement cycle and knowledge mapping
Improve team communication and trust

Dates: January 14-15, 2019

Location: AIBS Washington, DC, Offices, 1201 New York Avenue, NW, Suite 420, Washington, DC 20005

Cost: The registration fee covers instruction, materials and resources, and breakfast and lunch during the program. Transportation and lodging are not included, but AIBS can offer recommendations about lodging options.

$495/person	Full registration for individuals who are not AIBS members or nominated by an AIBS Member Society/Organization. A non-refundable $100 deposit is due at the time of registration. Join AIBS now to save $55 on your registration.
$440/person	Discounted registration for AIBS Members and individuals nominated by AIBS Member Societies and Organizations. A non-refundable $100 deposit is due at the time of registration.
Group discount	Organizations that register four (4) or more participants are eligible to save $30 per participant. Please contact Robert Gropp at rgropp@aibs.org for details.
We'll come to you	If you would like us to bring the course to your institution, we are happy to come to you. We are able to offer a substantial discount per person from the DC workshop rate. Please contact Robert Gropp at rgropp@aibs.org or 202-340-4281 for more information.