An end of year virtual meeting hosted by the Rosalind Franklin Society, highlighted astounding accomplishments of women and minorities in science as well as significant challenges yet to be addressed.
From groundbreaking research to prestigious awards and recognition, this virtual event provided incredible access to emerging stars as well as those who continue to lead the way.
Sessions covered the academic world as well as industry; corporations and start-ups; and U.S. and international colleagues and partnerships.
The event took place over two days: November 20th and November 21th.
Labs, Leaders, Critical Connections was produced with support from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), and OnRamp Bioinformatics, Inc.
Day 1:A welcome from RFS President Rita Colwell and RFS Founder Mary Ann Liebert.
Day 1: Translating Science and Skill Sets into a Career of Purpose Tracy Richmond McKnight, PhD Valerion Therapeutics, LLC and UCSF
Day 1: Catalyzing Women’s Leadership in STEM: Women in Science & Medicine McNulty Foundation Aprile Age, Executive Director Paul Angiolillo, PhD, St. Joseph’s University Teresa Boyer, EdD, Villanova University Kelle Cruz, PhD, Hunter College
Day 1: How Your Science Can Save the World Jennifer Shieh, PhD Chief Scientist & Technology Policy Advisor White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, Investment and Innovation, U.S. Small Business Administration
Day 1: More than Journals Ann Merchant Deputy Executive Director Science & Entertainment Exchange National Academies of Sciences
Day 1: The Age of Living Machines: How Biology Will Build the Next Technology Revolution Susan Hockfield, PhD Past President, MIT
Day 1: Designing Biology 2019 Rosalind Franklin Award, BIO Reshma Shetty, PhD Founder, Ginkgo Bioworks
Day 1: Uncovering Natural Defenses in the Fight Against Respiratory Viruses Levine Lab Laureate Award Ellen Foxman, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Yale University
Day 1: How I Learned to Build with Biology Sartorius & Prize for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy Ritu Raman, PhD, MIT Founder, WiSDM
Day 1: These Women Can: What’s Next for Women in the STEM Workplace Sam Smith Global Vice President, Life Science & Healthcare KellyOCG
Day 1: Getting to Even: Achieving Gender Parity in STEM in our Lifetime Susan Solomon CEO & Founder New York Stem Cell Foundation
Day 1: Out of the Shadows – Honoring Hidden Heroes of Science Seema Kumar V.P., Innovation, Global Health & Policy Communications Johnson & Johnson
Day 1: Advocacy and Inclusion in the Enterprise: What Helps, What Hurts Chris Dwan Independent Consultant in Life Sciences
Day 1: Fix the Environment: Culture Change in the Life Sciences Erin O’Shea, PhD President, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Day 1: Opportunities and Challenges in Cancer Research and the Important Contributions of Women to the Field Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc) CEO, American Association for Cancer Research
Day 1: Colliding Ribosomes as an Integrator of Cytoplasmic Stress Responses Rachel Green, PhD Distinguished Professor, Department of Biology Johns Hopkins University
Day 2: Women into STEM: Time to Fix the System! Shirley Malcom, PhD Head of Education & Human Resources Program American Association for the Advancement of Science SEA Change
Day 2: NSF’s Role in Addressing Barriers that Impact the Entire Scientific Research Ecosystem Rhonda Davis Head, Office of Diversity and Inclusion Office of the Director, National Science Foundation
Day 2: The Impact of Technology on our View of Biology Deanna Church, PhD Senior Director of Applications, Inscripta
Day 2: Leader Launch at the Mayo Clinic Stephen Ekker, PhD Dean, Graduate of Biomedical Sciences Mayo Clinic
Day 2: Transmission of Misfolded Proteins in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Common Mechanism of Disease Progression Virginia M.Y. Lee, PhD Breakthrough Prize 2020 Center for Neurodegenerative Disease University of Pennsylvania
Day 2: Innovative Benefits, Amazing Results Beth Shelton Executive Director Girl Scouts of America
Day 2: Women in Academic Medicine George Thibault, MD Past President Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation
Day 2: Working to Prevent Sexual Harassment in Higher Education Alex Helman, PhD Associate Program Officer National Academies of Sciences