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Graduate Student Leadership Conference: Elevate Your Skills, Expand Your Network

The Graduate Student Leadership Conference (GSLC) is your gateway to career success in agronomy, crop, and soil sciences. Designed exclusively for ASA, CSSA, and SSSA graduate students, this program combines an educational webinar series with an in-person leadership and networking experience at CANVAS in Salt Lake City, Utah.

What to Expect

1. Interactive Webinar Series

Gain essential professional skills through four targeted webinars covering:

March 12, 2025, 11am-12pm Central - Collaborative Leadership in Science: Pro Tips for Effective Interdisciplinary Teamwork

Join Dr. Dianna Bagnall, Research Soil Scientist and Program Director at the Soil Health Institute, for a webinar on collaborative leadership in agricultural sciences. Drawing from her experience, Dr. Bagnall will share practical strategies for effective interdisciplinary teamwork.

March 26, 2025, 11am-12pm Central - Intergenerational connections to enrich families, communities, and farmland

What makes a space transform into a place of meaning and connection? In this webinar, Dr. Matthew Kaplan will explore the role intergenerational relationships play in shaping the future of agriculture, enriching the bonds between families, communities, and the land they steward. Through stories and insights from Dr. Matthew Kaplan, this session will discuss the importance of passing down knowledge, traditions, and leadership values that foster resilience in farmland and community spaces alike.

April 2, 2025, 11am-12pm Central - Why Certifications Matter: Bridging Theory and Practice Through Applied Science

Certifications play a critical role in connecting scientific knowledge with practical applications in agriculture and environmental science. This webinar features three certified professionals, Aaron DeJoia, Wale Adewunmi, and Clay Robinson, who highlight the value of certifications in advancing careers, fostering ongoing education, and driving impact in areas like soil health and water quality. Join us to explore real-world success stories and understand how certifications equip professionals with the tools to address pressing challenges.

April 10, 2025, 12pm-1pm Central - Kickstarter for On-Farm Research: How to Work with Farmers to Run On-Farm Experimentations

Are you eager to conduct on-farm research but unsure how to get started? Join us for this insightful webinar led by Dr. Jerry Hatfield, renowned agricultural scientist and retired director of the USDA-ARS National Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment, along with Laila Puntel, Computational Agronomy Lead at Syngenta. Together, they’ll share practical strategies for collaborating with farmers, designing effective on-farm experiments, and translating research into actionable solutions that enhance soil health and crop productivity.

Complete at least three of four webinars for an advantage when applying for the in-person Graduate Student Leadership Conference.

Sponsored by Agronomic Science Foundation and Bayer

2. In-Person Leadership & Networking Conference

Join a dynamic, one-day event designed to enhance your leadership potential and expand your professional connections.