UNCW is hosting the 116th North Carolina Academy of Science Annual Meeting from March 22-23.

Founded in 1902, the NCAS promotes public appreciation of science, science education and research, and a meaningful role for science in public policy.

The annual meeting is an opportunity for students and educators from institutions across the state to come together, share their research, and forge collaborative partnerships for future projects.

The conference will begin Friday evening with a poster session and reception, followed by oral presentations, workshops and vendor exhibits on Saturday, and a keynote address by Stuart R. Borrett, UNCW’s Interim Associate Provost for Research. The meeting will conclude with an awards ceremony and reception Saturday evening.

The NCAS is particularly focused on the education of the state’s young scientists. The annual meeting gives undergraduate and graduate students, some for the first time, a platform to present their scientific research, network with colleagues and explore future professional opportunities.

Members of the Academy judge students’ research presentations, considering criteria such as methodology, data analysis and presentation integrity. The highest-scoring presenters receive Derieux Awards for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and winners of first place awards are invited to submit a full manuscript of their research to the Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science, the official peer-reviewed journal of the NCAS.

For scientists and researchers just beginning their careers, this type of experiential learning is invaluable.
UNCW is excited to host the meeting and partner with NCAS to provide the state’s science students with applied learning opportunities and advance collaborative research, two of the university’s highest priorities.

If you are interested in participating in the conference or presenting your research, visit the College of Arts and Sciences’ website for registration and abstract submission details.

We look forward to welcoming the NCAS to our campus later this month!

Aswani Volety, Ph.D., is dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina Wilmington,  Executive Director of the UNCW Center for Marine Science, and a professor in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology. Volety earned a Ph.D. in marine science from the College of William & Mary, and a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in zoology from Andhra University. The College of Arts and Sciences is UNCW’s largest academic unit, employing over 450 full-time and 150 part-time faculty members and awarding approximately three quarters of the university’s academic credits. Volety serves as the chief academic, fiscal and administrative officer of the college, which is responsible for educating students across the arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences. Volety is also past president of the Southern Association of Marine Labs.To learn more about the UNCW College of Arts and Sciences, visit www.uncw.edu/cas. Questions and comments can be sent to [email protected].