Our mission statement

CEGSS serves as a resource biology graduate students at Baylor, offering consultation on academic life, sharing upcoming events, discussing research projects, and facilitating communication within the biology department. Our mission is to advance biological research and education through collaborative efforts, community engagement, and professional development. We aim to:

 

  • Promote Research Excellence: Encourage innovative research projects and provide a platform for students to present their findings at the Annual Symposium. By fostering a culture of rigorous scientific inquiry, we aim to contribute to significant biological advancements. We emphasize the importance of presentation experience as it improves communication skills, boosts confidence, and prepares students’ to effectively share their scientific findings with diverse community audiences.

 

  • Increase Graduate Cohesiveness: Curate opportunities for comradery among graduate students through social events both on and off campus. To increase productivity, we must foster the relationships in and out of the lab. Events planned include: potlucks, Halloween door decorating contest, free professional photos to boost LinkedIn presence, SWAG (Baylor biology/CEGSS shirts, sweatshirts, mugs etc.), and monthly outings in Waco.

 

  • Support Professional Growth: Offer networking opportunities with Alumni, resources for resume and CV improvement, and professional headshots.

 

  • Participate in Outreach Opportunities: Participation at Mayborn and community presentations will strengthen the biology departments presence in the community. Collaboration with CRASR to use equipment to remove pollutants from Baylor rivers will improve and preserve the local environment.

 

We aim to build collaborative bridges across STEM disciplines by expanding our symposium to include: Anthropology, Biology, Environmental Science, Geological Science, and Statistical Science. Expanding the symposium to two days will facilitate informative presentations and meaningful Q&A, preserving the integrity of the work. CEGSS plans to utilize the Bear Grant and Student Government to obtain additional funding for the symposium.

 

By securing funding, we hope to expand our initiatives, support more students, and make a lasting impact on both our academic community and the broader public.