The IDEA2 Conference is an expansion of the annual AIBS Council of Member Societies and Organizations meeting. Again this year, we are including like-minded organizations and individuals committed to increasing diversity in the biological sciences.
Topic: Expanding the IDEA
Date: November 30, 2023, 1:00PM - 5:00PM ET
Location: Online
Resources
Scientific institutions increasingly recognize the need to remove barriers for individuals historically underrepresented in science and to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). A wider breadth of scientific competencies—achieved by expanding DEI—is needed to address critical concerns with worldwide impacts. Improving DEI requires a significant cultural shift, and scientific societies provide a unique platform to lead these cultural changes in the biological sciences. Scientific societies represent a wide variety of individuals and institutions; they have access to multiple fields of biology to impart resources and education; and they can enable networking and idea sharing across many disciplines and organizations to empower new approaches.
AIBS released a Diversity Plan in 2021, updated in 2023, which focused on actions that centered on three of our core activities: assessment, training, and communication. AIBS has worked to assess our current programs as well as to develop and expand programs and policies that increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in the biological sciences. AIBS was able to successfully lay the foundation for programs and activities that will achieve these ends.
One major focus of our activities in 2021 was to expand the annual meeting of the AIBS Council of Member Societies and Organizations, also known as the IDEA2 conference. The IDEA2 conference focuses on Enabling Scientific Societies to Support Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, Accepting, Accessible (IDEA2) Scientific Environments. The first meeting of the conference was held in November of 2021. The outcomes from this meeting have been published as a special report in our premier journal, BioScience.
The 2022 IDEA conference was a series of mini-sessions that culminated with the annual meeting of the AIBS Council of Member Societies and Organizations. The 3 mini-sessions focused on society commitment to DEI and explored internal structure, external communication and assessment.
The focus of this year’s meeting will be Expanding the IDEA. This year, the meeting will bring like-minded organizations together to identify collaboration opportunities, needed resources, and future activities.
Who should attend?
- Officers of AIBS member organizations, particularly those in one of the following positions: your representative to the AIBS Council, president or president-elect, executive director or senior staff.
- Members of your organization’s diversity committee or director/manager of diversity initiatives.
- Members of your organization interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion in science
- Student members interested in diversity, equity, and inclusion in science.
Registration
Registration for the 2023 IDEA Conference is now open. Please complete the registration form as soon as possible as space is limited.
Not a member of AIBS? Contact us to find out more about how to join AIBS.
Expanding the IDEA
Review the Conference Brochure
Draft Council Meeting Agenda
1:00 PM — Welcome and Moment of Acknowledgement
1:10 PM — Opening Remarks
1:20 PM — The Importance of an IDEA Environments
1:30 PM — Sharing of Thoughts and Comments
1:40 PM — Synopsis of IDEA (1.0 & 2.0)
1:55 PM — IDEAL Award
2:05 PM — Expanding the IDEA
2:25 PM — Break
2:40 PM — Moving Forward - Breakouts
3:30 PM — Moving Forward - Report Out
4:00 PM — NSF LEAPS PI Summaries/Q&A
4:55 PM — Closing Remarks
5:00 PM — Adjourn
Find out more about our commitment to increasing inclusion, diversity, equity, acceptance and accessibility (IDEA2) in the biological sciences.