Education
Tips for starting a student chapter
The ASBMB Student Chapters program offers benefits to undergraduate students and faculty advisers alike. Starting a new chapter may seem daunting, but there are many great ideas to consider for activities and stories to review covering chapter accomplishments and student success.
Ready to start a chapter? Make sure you have a faculty adviser who is a regular ASBMB member and at least five students before .
Ideas for educational and professional-development activities
- Research talks
- Alumni career panels
- Course selection pre-registration lunch/dinner
- Student–faculty luncheon
- MCAT study group
- Résumé photo event/headshots
- Advising event
- Faculty talks
- Student mentor–mentee programs
- Journal club
- Off-campus trips to learn about BMB in the field
Ideas for outreach activities
- Presenting about research to high school students to introduce them to STEM
- Publishing a chapter campus newsletter or magazine
- Organizing a lesson for a local after-school program
- Judging or presenting at local science festivals
- Hosting a demonstration at a booth on campus
- Leading a drive for supplies to send to health-oriented service organizations
- Supporting local Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups on initiatives leading to merit badges
- Participating in a science café
- Hosting a demonstration at a local farmer’s market
- Creating a science-focused podcast
- Taking students on tour of on-campus labs
- Participating in advocacy related to science
Ideas for social activities
- Building edible cell models with club members
- Weekly informal luncheon
- Creating terrariums as a group
- Painting party
- Senior cookout
- Soap making
- Finals study break
Learn more
Magazine
How to run an ASBMB Student Chapter
A conversation with John Tansey, a professor at Otterbein University and adviser to the winner of the 2023 ASBMB Outstanding Chapter Award.
Magazine
Why should I be an ASBMB Student Chapter adviser?
Ann Aguanno and Andrea Anastasio answer frequently asked questions about advising undergraduate chapters.