oCUBE (Un)Conferences

Starting in 2009, the oCUBE UnConference was a true UnConference, wherein the entire program was set in real time. In 2014, celebrating our 5th anniversary, and evolving like any good population of biologists do, we piloted a blended format, with several session topics proposed and tentatively scheduled in advance--hence the modified (Un)Conference title. Following the UnConference format, however, these, along with topics that were pitched the first day of the meeting, were 'voted in' to the final Program.

With the Program established, each UnConference session has one or two conveners/facilitators, usually those that pitched the topic, who frame the topic, facilitate the body of discussion, and guide closure toward a concrete product. The main products of each session are published in near-to-real time on the oCUBE website: feel free to peruse the Programs of our previous UnConferences right here on the website, where you'll find links to all of these practical collaborative products.

We generally have two types of sessions: BIGS (Big Idea Group Sessions; ~ 55 min) and GIFTS (Great Ideas For Teaching Sessions; ~ 25 min). All of this activity is bounded by "white space": time for spill-over discussions while sitting on the dock or strolling in the woods.