NSM Professional Series in Teaching, Research, and Leadership
The Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is initiating an annual series focused on our pillars of excellence – teaching, research, and leadership – to bring together faculty and staff from across the departments to share expertise, support each other in these endeavors, and build collaborations.
- Teaching: Talk with NSM colleagues about effective classroom instruction, cutting-edge education research, and innovative curriculum design in our STEM classrooms.
- Research: Learn and discuss strategies from UT and NSM colleagues to secure funding and build robust networks and collaborations within the dynamic STEM fields.
- Leadership: Work alongside colleagues to cultivate strengths in career advancement, mentoring, well-being, and essential leadership qualities.
There will be four events each academic year hosted September through May, bookended by social gatherings. The exact date and time for each event will be determined by the presenters for each event, but we will target the third week of each month whenever possible.
The initial 2024 – 25 academic schedule is listed below. Dates and times for some events are pending. Please keep an eye out for future updates.
| Month | Topic | Date, Time, & Location | Title | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | A social event to welcome in the new year. | September 20 8 – 10 a.m. Student Union (SU) 272c Ballroom | Welcome Breakfast | Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics faculty are invited to mingle with new faculty members from the division and connect with current colleagues during the upcoming breakfast social. This is a relaxed event where you can drop in, grab breakfast, chat with new colleagues, and leave when you need to. |
| October | A teaching event bringing together talent from different NSM departments to share and discuss their innovative and inclusive teaching methods. | October 24 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Student Union (SU) 362b | Engaging in Active Learning in NSM Disciplines | Join Dean Kate Jones (Physics) and Stephanie Drumheller-Horton (EEPS) for a discussion on engaging students in the STEM classroom. |
| November | A research event to increase success and collaboration in research endeavors in NSM. | November 4 3 – 4 p.m. Zoom (Click here to attend) | PIVOT Training Workshop | Join the Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA), as they discuss PIVOT–a streamlined research funding search engine for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students. In this session, participants will learn best practices for building a tailored PIVOT profile with weekly, automated alerts and tracking funding opportunities. |
| February | A leadership event highlighting and building support for NSM faculty and staff careers and well-being. | February 18 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Student Union (SU) 362b | Mentoring NSM Students in Science Communication | TBD. |
| March | A teaching event featuring a special session of the Teaching and Learning Innovation Teaching Values Summit. | March (TBD) Part of TLI Teaching Values summit and organized by CATE. Hosted the Monday afternoon before the TLI Innovative Teaching Conference. | UT Teaching Values Summit | This event brings together the three Divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences where each will host a session focusing on ideas from one of the UT Principles of Excellence in Teaching. This event is hosted in partnership with the Community of Scholars for Advancing Teaching Excellence (CATE). |
| May | A social event inviting all division faculty and staff to tour science facilities at UT and celebrate the end of the semester with sweet treats. | May (TBD) Tour of space on campus with a food truck nearby. | Science Social | Tour location TBD. |