Memphis-Area Biodiversity Research & Education Collaborative
1st (Introductory) Meeting
2nd Meeting, Internships & Workforce Development
Goals: We seek to organize and better connect biodiversity researchers, educators, and employers in the Memphis area in order to identify new opportunities for research, education, student training and other workforce development, and to match the needs and interests of stakeholders with opportunities available through local companies, colleges and universities, state and local government, NGOs, and other organizations.
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Topics for Future Meetings (one per meeting):
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Date TBD: Research (collaborative research/proposals, funding opportunities, research on property, research facilities/resources, etc.)
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Date TBD: Engagement with Higher Education: (curriculum development, teaching on property, teaching facilities/resources, etc.)
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Date TBD: Outreach & Other Broader Impacts: (collaborative programs, outreach on property, outreach facilities/resources, etc.)
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Other Topics: TBD; suggestions welcome
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Interested in attending a future meeting? Contact us at the email address below.
Interests, Opportunities, & Needs (example from CBio):
Who we are: University of Memphis Center for Biodiversity Research (CBio; www.umbiodiversity.org)
Interests (what we do, why we are here):
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Enhance & expand biodiversity research and education
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Establish relationships with research & education partners & stakeholders
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Inform & inspire biodiversity awareness, sustainable management & conservation
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Translate biodiversity information to science & society
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Provide an intellectually vibrant community for biodiversity researchers and educators
Opportunities (for the community*):
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Research and travel grants for CBio faculty and students to engage in collaborative research, education, and outreach, including grant-writing (e.g., training grants, NSF-IGE, NSF-REU, NSF-SSTEM)
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Small grants for CBio faculty and students to support workshops and community building/development
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Graduate studies (and the Biodiversity Scholars Program) in biodiversity science and education.
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A broad array of university courses in biodiversity science & education
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Meeman Biological Station within 25 miles of Memphis on more than 600 acres with Mississippi River access and adjacent to Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park (for research and teaching)
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Exceptional greenhouse, compute and microscopy resources for collaborative teaching & research
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Agriculture & Food Technologies Research Cluster (small grants) through the FedEx Institute
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19 PhD faculty and staff Associates, and 30 postdocs and graduate students with research and teaching interests in biodiversity science & education
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Administrative support for establishing internships (paid, unpaid, course credit) and other opportunities for workforce development through the University of Memphis office of Career Services
*Competitively awarded small grants for collaborative work in biodiversity science and education are available to University of Memphis CBio faculty, postdocs, and students collaborating with area organizations
Needs (from the community):
New opportunities/partners for collaborative research and education in biodiversity science, and career development and employment opportunities for our graduates. Biodiversity scientists, educators, and employers willing to mentor UofM undergraduate and graduate students via internships, job shadowing, and other education/job training (unpaid, paid, course credit).
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Contact Person: To learn more about these and other opportunities contact Dr. Duane McKenna