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 following the directions to get started.

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