Join NUCSJ 2025!

Interested in publishing scientific research as an undergraduate? Curious about the spread of scientific information? Want to know what steps you should take in preparation for your desired career? NUCSJ is hosting its annual conference on February 8, 2025 from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm EST and you’re invited to attend! The conference will bring together hundreds of student scientists and multiple undergraduate research journals from across the nation to discuss research ethics and practice, the publication process, the role of student journals, and more. Topics covered will be relevant to undergraduate research authors, science majors, journal-affiliated students, and scientific professionals alike.  The event will be held both in-person at Columbia University and virtually over Zoom (we highly encourage in-person attendance!). We're looking forward to seeing you there!

 Introduction

The executive board will speak on why the NUCSJ was founded, the importance of undergraduate research journals, and why we are doing this conference. Columbia University Interim President Katrina Armstrong will deliver opening remarks on her career in scientific communication thus far and guidance for aspiring professionals in the field. 

Credibility and Accessibility in Research Consumption

How can we as students and scientists maintain a level of credibility through presented information while also remaining accessible for undergraduates? This panel seeks to provide answers to key questions at the heart of undergraduate research. In addition, we will discuss how undergraduates can make informed conclusions about scientific literature in both their own research and the publication process for undergraduate journals. Panelists will include Jeannette Wing, the Executive Vice President for Research and Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University's School of Engineering and Applied Science, and Rampi Ramprasad, a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in Energy Sustainability and Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Careers in Scientific Communication

The panel will explore careers in scientific communication, discussing what draws individuals to the field, the challenges of starting and advancing in this interdisciplinary career, and strategies for balancing technical accuracy with accessibility. Panelists will share insights into navigating audience priorities, making complex topics understandable, and addressing underrepresented scientific issues. They will also discuss the evolving landscape of science communication and offer practical advice for students and early-career professionals seeking to enter the field. The panel will feature Dave Levitan, the deputy editor for Splinter and well-published climate journalist and author; Jonathan Weiner, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and professor at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism;  Victoria Jaggard, the Executive Editor of ScienceNews; Max Kozlov, a reporter at Nature covering biomedical discoveries; and David Grimm, Online News Editor of Science, who focuses on animal welfare and rights.

History of Discovery: Frontiers in Science

The panel will delve into the dynamics of scientific discovery, exploring how serendipity, creativity, and risk-taking drive breakthroughs and shape research. Discussions will address lessons from transformative discoveries, the balance between structured and open-ended exploration, and the impact of collaboration across disciplines. Panelists will also offer advice for overcoming failure, fostering resilience, and inspiring the next generation of scientists to push the boundaries of knowledge. The panel will feature Marc Aidinoff, Assistant Professor of the History of Technology at Harvard and former senior advisor in the Biden-Harris White House; Ivana Hughes, Director of Columbia University's Frontiers of Science Course and President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; and Robert Lefkowitz, Nobel Prize-winning physician-scientist and Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry, and Chemistry at Duke University.

Keynote speaker: Dr. Martin Chalfie, Nobel Prize-winning Professor of Biological Sciences at Columbia University

Closing remarks: Arya Rao, MD-PhD Candidate at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts Insitute for Technology and Founder/President Emeritus of the NUCSJ

In-person attendance at Columbia University

The conference will take place at Jerome Greene Hall at Columbia University (435 West 116th Street, New York, NY, 10027). Once you fill out the registration form and indicate you will be attending in-person, you will receive an email with further information about travel and campus access. 

Virtual attendance

Once you fill out the registration form and indicate you will be attending virtually, you will receive an email with the Zoom link.

Want to volunteer for our conference?

Please email nm3307@columbia.edu for more information!