Host: Montgomery College, Rockville campus (map)
Saturday, April 20th, 2024 (8:00AM - 4:00 PM)

The 9th (2024) Conference will be an in-person experience for STEM students, faculty and staff! MCSC looks forward to a safe and energizing in-person Conference at Montgomery College at its Rockville campus. The Conference will follow the CDC and host institute guidelines with regards to masks. Currently, wearing of masks to cover the mouth and nose is optional at the host college.

Registration for the 2024 Conference is now closed!
Conference Program is now available.

  • Dr. Aeriel D. M. Leonard

  • The Ohio State University

  • Dr. Aeriel D.M. Leonard holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Ohio State University (OSU), where she has distinguished herself through notable achievements and contributions to her field. In recognition of her innovative research and commitment to excellence, Dr. Leonard has received several prestigious awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2023, the Department of Energy Early Career Award in 2022—making her the first assistant professor from OSU's College of Engineering to do so—and the Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Award in 2021.

    At OSU, Dr. Leonard plays a pivotal role as the Co-advisor for the Society of Women Engineers chapter, demonstrating her dedication to mentoring and leadership within the engineering community. Her commitment to education and inclusion is evident through her initiatives to boost graduate student numbers in materials science and engineering. She has launched impactful programs, such as a 2-day exploratory workshop for undergraduate students from historically black colleges and universities, as well as a program to introduce k-12 students in the Columbus, OH area to science and engineering, aimed at fostering early interest in STEM fields.

    In 2022, Dr. Leonard chaired the Fourth Summit on Diversity in Minerals, Metals, and Materials Profession, highlighting her active involvement in promoting diversity within her profession. Her efforts within the materials science community was recognized when she received the Young Leader’s Professional Development Award from the Minerals, Metals, and Materials Society (TMS) in 2020.

    Dr. Leonard embarked on her academic journey by earning a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the University of Alabama in 2012, followed by a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2018. Her doctoral research focused on the real-time analysis of microstructural and deformation evolution in magnesium alloys, employing cutting-edge techniques such as high-energy diffraction microscopy and electron microscopy. During her Ph.D., Dr. Leonard played a key role in fostering diversity in engineering through leadership in initiatives like the Grad-SWE SUCCESS leadership camp for female engineering students in Monrovia, Liberia, and the establishment of L-SWE, contributing significantly to the inclusion of underrepresented minorities in engineering.

    Following her Ph.D., she was awarded an NRC Postdoctoral Fellowship at the US Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC, where she spent two years advancing the understanding of damage and texture evolution in additive manufactured materials through sophisticated characterization techniques.

    Beyond her professional achievements Dr. Leonard is a proud boy mom and wife of an active duty service member. Dr. Leonard shares insights and experiences through her lifestyle blog, AerielViews, targeting young graduate and professional students, offering a unique perspective on balancing life and a demanding career in STEM. Her career is a testament to her pioneering spirit, dedication to diversity and education, and her outstanding contributions to the field of materials science and engineering.

  • Trusting The Process: My Journey In Materials Science

  • Until she reached high school, Dr. Aeriel Leonard aspired to follow in Condoleezza Rice's footsteps. However, everything changed when her ninth-grade science teacher introduced her to the world of science fairs. This revelation sparked a newfound passion in scientific research, transforming her into an avid science fair participant who would eventually compete in international events across the United States. Throughout this transformative journey, Dr. Leonard encountered numerous obstacles, learning that the path to realizing one's fullest potential is often paved with challenges. Success isn't about being the most intelligent person in the room; it's about possessing resilience and the determination to persevere through difficult times. Embracing the journey involves trusting in the path you're on and maintaining belief in your abilities, especially when your goals feel out of reach. Dr. Aeriel Leonard is set to explore the essence of remaining dedicated to your dreams, even in the face of challenges.

  • Dr. Laura Ott

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Dr. Laura Ott is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a PhD in immunology and at UNC, she leverages her broad training in cell and molecular biology to teach large-enrollment introductory cell and molecular biology and anatomy & physiology courses that employ evidence-based pedagogies. She is also the co-director of the Carolina Biology Education Research Laboratory that has the mission of engaging undergraduates in disciplinary-based education research (DBER). She regularly mentors undergraduates in DBER projects and publishes results from these studies in peer-reviewed biology education journals with undergraduates co-authors. Prior to UNC, Dr. Ott completed a postdoctoral teaching fellowship in the NC State University Biotechnology Program before serving as the Science Education Research Unit director at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). At UMBC, Dr. Ott served in leadership roles on two large federally funded grant initiatives. The first, funded by the NSF, involved an inter-institutional collaboration between biology and math faculty at UMBC and four Community Colleges to promote students’ quantitative reasoning skills within a biological context. The second, funded by the NIH, explored various curricular and co-curricular interventions to promote the success of diverse students in STEM, including those who transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions.

  • Engaging Students in STEM Education Research to Promote Their Science Identity and Research Self-Efficacy

  • It is well established that undergraduates who engage in authentic research experience greater academic outcomes and persistence in STEM, which are associated with their development of research self-efficacy (RSE) and scientific identities (SI). That said, many students miss out on the opportunity to conduct research due to there not being sufficient traditional STEM disciplinary-specific research opportunities. We have developed a mechanism to address this problem by creating a credit-based course for students to engage in authentic STEM education research. Students may take this course for two semesters, and we are using quantitative, validated instruments and focus groups to evaluate if students engaged in STEM education research develop the same psycho-social measures of RSE and SI as those engaged in traditional research. This talk will focus on the structure of our STEM education research program, a review of preliminary assessment results, and provide faculty the opportunity to brainstorm possible education research projects suitable for undergraduates to pursue.

Sponsors of the 9th (2024) Conference - Updated weekly

Gold Sponsors
Frederick Community College
Harford Community College
Howard Community College
Johns Hopkins University
Montgomery College

Silver Sponsors
Anne Arundel Community College
Baltimore City Community College
University of Maryland Global Campus

Bronze Sponsors
Allegany College of Maryland
Carroll Community College
Community College of Baltimore County
McGraw Hill
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Shippensburg University
UMBC - Shady Grove
University of Maryland, College Park - Clark School of Engineering

Exhibition Area of the Conference
Hood College
Johns Hopkins University
McDaniel College
McGraw Hill
Mount Saint Mary’s University
NCAB AALAS
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Shippensburg University
Trinity Washington University
West Virginia University
University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
University of Maryland Baltimore County - College of Engineering & Information Technology
University of Maryland Baltimore County - Shady Grove
University of Maryland, College Park - Clark School of Engineering
University of Maryland Global Campus