Campus Life

Registration now open for 2023 Graduate Women in Science National Conference

Undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, faculty, staff and professionals of all genders are invited to attend, submit abstracts for posters, talks or both

Credit: Graduate Women in Science at Penn StateAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Registration is now open for the 2023 Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) National Conference, hosted by the State College GWIS Chapter at Penn State University Park this summer. Undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, faculty, staff and professionals of all genders are invited to attend the conference. Register here by Monday, June 5.

The conference, titled “Come Together: The Importance of Connection," will be held Thursday, June 22, through Saturday, June 24, at the HUB-Robeson Center on the University Park campus.

The cost is $125 for Penn State Students, $175 for other students, $250 for professionals, and free registration for virtual Thursday/Friday attendees. There will be no virtual option on Saturday. 

Highlights of this year’s conference include:

  • Opportunities to present scholarly work during our quick talk session and/or poster session. For more information, see the call for abstracts below. 
  • Professional development workshops and panels about science communication and outreach
  • Career exploration panels and breakout sessions, with representatives from industry, government, academia, and other science careers
  • A series of “Diverse Experiences in STEM” talks, illuminating the positive influence of community in individual experiences as scientists. For more information, see the call for abstracts below. 
  • A keynote address by mathematician and diversity advocate Pamela Harris
  • A book discussion with Rachel Pastan, author of "In the Field"
  • Networking events to connect participants with other scientists and members of GWIS in chapters from across the country

Click here for a detailed schedule of events.

Abstract Submission Guidelines

Abstract submission for the 2023 National GWIS Conference will open on April 3 and close on May 22. Please submit your text abstract of 300 words or less. Please include a title, list of authors, and affiliations (not included in the word count). Do not include any images. Indicate on that form if you would like to be considered for a poster, talk or either. Abstracts are due by Wednesday, May 31, at 11:59 p.m.

Click here to submit an abstract for a 12-minute quick research talk and/or research poster.

Poster presentations

Poster presentations will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 24. There will be two sessions to accommodate quick talk speakers who would like to present a poster, as well. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to come around, view posters and interact with participants. In addition, posters will be featured virtually. Finally, there is a chance for an award for the top posters.

Quick talk presentation

Submitted abstracts can also be considered for quick talk presentations (10 minutes long, followed by 3 minutes of questions). There will be an award for the top presentations.

Call for Abstracts for 'Diverse Experiences in STEM' talk

We also are currently seeking proposals of 20-minute talks about the diverse experiences of people in STEM related to our theme "Come Together: The Importance of Connection." More specifically, we are hoping to showcase experiences emphasizing how community building, networking, mentorship, and/or outreach have positively impacted your experience as a scientist.

This session will be on Saturday, June 24, from 2:45 to 4 p.m. All selected speakers for this session will receive complimentary conference registration for the 2023 GWIS National Conference. Proposals are due by May 31 at 11:59 p.m. Selected speakers will be notified June 1. This year’s conference will only allow in-person posters and quick talk presentations; there is no virtual option to present.

Click here to submit a proposal for a 20-minute Diverse Experiences in STEM talk.

Questions? Contact statecollege@gwis.org.

Last Updated May 19, 2023