2020 NDiSTEM Conference

Virtual | October 22 - 24, 2020

SACNAS has officially held its annual conference since 1986 and in 2020, for the first time, meeting in person was no longer safe. After surveying our members and stakeholders, it was clear that the ability to come together was critical. As a community, when we gather together we can share our challenges as well as our strategies for success. Together we can encourage one another to persist. Amidst a pandemic, a cultural reckoning around racism in our country, and burgeoning climate change, our members needed space to feel safe, connect, problem-solve, celebrate, and heal. With this in mind, we had to act swiftly and strategically to make the shift to a virtual conference.

Through speaker suggestions, session proposals, research presentations, MANY volunteer hours, and of course the support of our partners, board and staff, SACNAS held the first virtual conference as well as the largest SACNAS conference in its history with a record 5,767 attendees from all STEM disciplines, backgrounds, experiences, and parts of the country.

Conference Reflections

As a first time attendee, while different from the norm, this experience was still invaluable. I've learned a lot, had the chance to network with people, and really think about what should be my next step in order to reach my career goals. #SACNAS2020 @SACNAS pic.twitter.com/QAilJo5hqg

— Melody Aleman 🇪🇨🇵🇷⚓️ (@MicrobialMelody) October 23, 2020

Gave my CV out to few folx at SACNAS and I’m receiving all these invites from different biotech companies as well as other universities about potential opportunities.I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for PIs to send their URM students to diversity centered conferences

— Corbin Schuster (@Corbin13Isodope) November 12, 2020

SACNAS community just reminded me that it‘s okay to be all that I am ALL the time. In the lab, at a conference, when meeting new people, and in everyday life. I can be all that AND a scientist. 💫💫💫#SACNAS2020

— Christina Perez (@_desert_hort_) October 22, 2020