BIO-SOILS WORKSHOP

Overview | Motivation | Logistics | Agenda | Organizers | Letter to participants

PRELIMINARY WORKSHOP AGENDA
Updated on March 12, 2007

Sunday, April 1, 2007

• 2:00 – 4:30 pm | Arrival & check-in at MIT Endicott House Facility
• 4:30 pm | Welcome reception
• 5:30 pm | Dinner, Vision & Scope, Introductions
• 7:00 pm | Evening Lecture I: “Current Boundaries and Needs of Our Disciplines”
• 8:30 pm | Coffee, Drinks, etc.

Monday, April 2, 2007

• 8:00 am | Breakfast
• 9:00 am | Geotechnical Engineering Lectures
• (3 lectures – 20 minutes each & 10 minutes of questions)
• 10:30 am | Geotechnical Engineering Poster Presentations
• Posters setup in coffee area. Geotechnical engineers stand by posters presenting work.
• All other participants would walk through the posters, with a clear charge to answer one of the two following questions:
• What have I seen/learned that is of relevance to what I do?
• What do I do that is of relevance to what I have seen/learned?
• 11:30 am | Geotechnical Engineering Workshop Discussion
• Discussion led by participants providing answers to one of the two questions above. It is important here for there to be out-flowing of ideas….lots of ideas/comments in a brainstorming manner… responses/resolution to comments not as critical.
• 12:00 pm | Lunch
• 2:00 pm | Geotechnical Engineering Lectures
• (3 lectures – 20 minutes each & 10 minutes of questions)
• 3:30 pm | Microbiology & Geochemistry Poster Presentations
• Posters setup in coffee area. Geotechnical engineers stand by posters presenting work.
• All other participants would walk through the posters, with a clear charge to answer one of the two following questions:
• What have I seen/learned that is of relevance to what I do?
• What do I do that is of relevance to what I have seen/learned?
• 4:30 pm | Microbiology & Geochemistry Workshop Discussion
• Discussion led by participants providing answers to one of the two questions above. It is important here for there to be out-flowing of ideas….lots of ideas/comments in a brainstorming manner… responses/resolution to comments not as critical.
• 5:00 pm | Break.
• 6:00 pm | Dinner
• 7:00 pm | Evening Lecture II: “Creativity & Innovation”
• 8:30 pm | Coffee, Drinks, etc.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

• 8:00 am| Breakfast
• 9:00 am | Soil Science & Geoenvironmental Lectures
• (3 lectures – 20 minutes each & 10 minutes of questions)
• 10:30 am | Soil Science & Geoenvironmental Poster Presentations
• Posters setup in coffee area. Geotechnical engineers stand by posters presenting work.
• All other participants would walk through the posters, with a clear charge to answer one of the two following questions:
• What have I seen/learned that is of relevance to what I do?
• What do I do that is of relevance to what I have seen/learned?
• 11:30 am | Soil Science & Geoenvironmental Workshop Discussion
• Discussion led by participants providing answers to one of the two questions above. It is important here for there to be out-flowing of ideas….lots of ideas/comments in a brainstorming manner… responses/resolution to comments not as critical.
• 12:00 pm | Lunch
• 2:00 pm | Process Monitoring & Measurements – the Interdisciplinary Toolbox
• (2 lectures @ 20 minutes each, 5 minute “nugget” presentations by interested participants, questions throughout)
• Open presentation time for all participants to present nuggets
• 4:00 pm | Brainstorming Sessions in Research Interest Groups
• Suggest series of discussion topics such as current capabilities, scientific boundaries, practical implementation boundaries, possible applications, etc.? (Exact topics determined based on workshop interactions)
• 6:00 pm | Dinner
• 8:30 pm | Coffee, Drinks, continued informal brainstorming

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

• 8:00 am | Breakfast
• 9:00 am | Synthesis of Research Opportunities
• Groups synthesize their assessment for 10 minute overview/presentation to larger group.
• Identify key areas of opportunity.
• Comments on funding options and limitations.
• 10:30 am | Refreshment break
• 11:00 am | Synthesis of Educational Opportunities
• Overview of IGERT Education Program at Virginia Tech
• Education needs by discipline
• Education needs at K-12, undergrad, and graduate levels
• 12:30 pm | Lunch & Closing Remarks
• 1:30 - 2:00 pm | Check-out & Depart

Note: Schedule above is tentative and will be adjusted as participants are confirmed and presentations are received. Last updated: March 12, 2007