Sonoma State University

Pre-conference Workshops

Thursday, 8:00 am - 1:15 pm

Becoming a Naturalist: The intersection of nature, art, and technology

Participants will explore the process of becoming a Naturalist through a visit to the Safari West zoological park. Activities will begin in the Safari West naturalist center with some background on the Grinnell System of Journaling, leading edge technology for species identification, and an overview and lesson in illustration of life. Participants will be able to engage their new skills on a walking tour through the park where they can note encounters with a variety of plants and animals in their personal Naturalist Journals as well as through cell-phone based naturalist technology. After the hike, participants will return to an Education Center for a boxed lunch and time to follow up illustrations and observations of their favorite organisms. Participants will take their journals and their new skills with them so they can continue their naturalist journey at home and abroad. Registration includes all materials, travel to Safari West, SSU water bottle, and a boxed lunch.

Workshop leaders

  • Wendy St. John, CEI Faculty Project Director and Department of Biology faculty member
  • Julie Whitmann, CEI Naturalist Education Specialist 
  • Dr. Derek Girman, Director of Graduate Studies and Department of Biology faculty member
  • SSU Graduate Student Naturalist Coordinator
  • Two SSU student naturalist interns

Making Community

The Making Community pre-conference workshop introduces participants to interdisciplinary applications of the SSU Maker Space in a community service project. Participants will utilize the equipment and supplies in the SSU Maker Space to prepare signage for a partnership with the City of Santa Rosa and the Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma County. The Maker Space is located on the SSU campus and registration costs include all materials, lunch, and transport to campus.

Workshop leaders

Nuts and Bolts

Interactive workshop to learn the tools and techniques of interdisciplinary pedagogy. Participants will define terms, contextualize goals, and learn best practices in interdisciplinary syllabus and assignment development, assessment techniques, and research methods.

Workshop leaders

  • Dr. Cynthia Kimball Davis, Southern Utah University
  • Dr. Mike Cena, Weber State University
  • Brandon N. Springer, Utah Valley University 

Networking Opportunity: Inter- and Transdisciplinary Global Mentorship Event

The Inter- and Transdisciplinary (ITD) Mentorship Event invites AIS2022 Conference participants at all career levels to come together and discuss needs related to ITD mentorship. The event also provides a “speed-dating activity,” enabling participants to meet new colleagues at all levels and possibly identify new potential mentor-mentee relationships.

Workshop leaders

  • Kirsi Cheas, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, University of Vaasa and Visiting Scholar New York University
  • Beverley McGuire, Professor of East Asian Religions, University of North Carolina Wilmington
  • Rick Szostak, Professor of Economics, University of Alberta