Past Events

Join us for the annual CBS Summer BBQ on Thursday, June 18! The event has been moved into the Waasamowin atrium due to the weather.  The event starts at 12:00pm with opening remarks by the Interim Dean of CBS, at 12:45pm. The CBS Teaching Awards and Best Paper winners will also be presented. Please register by Wednesday, June 10.

The international conference Pathway to Increase Standards and Competency of eDNA Surveys (PISCeS) is being held once again at the University of Guelph between June 15 and 17, 2026, with a reception on the evening of June 14th. Academia, regulators, industry, NGO’s, and Indigenous partners are invited to join in a discussion on public policy, industry strategies and future research on eDNA.

We all deal with rejection in our lives. Maybe you didn't get into the grad school program of your choice, get that job you really wanted, or weren't able to secure that research opportunity you were hoping for. This workshop will help you to: understand common reactions to rejection learn practical, constructive ways to cope with rejection explore self-care strategies know when and where to seek support increase your self-awareness and understanding of your experience

About geXc The Genomic Exchange Community geXc is a grassroots initiative with an intent to improve Genomics through collaboration and innovation, providing a forum for sharing, learning, and networking. Since 2011, GeXc events hosted at leading Canadian institutions have convened nearly 5,000 scientists around a shared belief: that open exchange between academia and industry accelerates discovery.

On June 2, the Microbiome Preservation and Analysis Research Centre (MiPARC) will be holding a free half-day symposium at the Arboretum. All faculty, staff and graduate students with an interest in microbiome research are welcome to attend.  The event will feature a keynote presentation by Dr. Jonathan Gewirtzman from Stanford University, updates about the MiPARC facility and services being offered, as well as a poster competition (with prizes) for graduate students.

The College of Biological Science Graduate Student Symposium (CBS GSS) is a college level student-run conference which provides a platform for graduate students to present their research through posters and presentations. This event also provides an opportunity for graduate students to familiarize themselves with the studies of their fellow researchers within the college and to forge meaningful connections to build their networks. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, May 5th! This is our 21st GSS, so please join us to celebrate such an occasion!

We hope you will join us on April 30 in Rozanski Hall for our 9th Annual COESP Day. COESP Day is our annual event that brings CBS instructors, staff, and students together to explore questions in teaching and learning. This year, we’re focusing on teaching and supporting students in a time of increased distraction and rapid technological advancement. Everyone is welcome, including faculty, graduate students, and staff from across the University of Guelph. A light breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

CBS Graduate Students: Careers in Biology is back!  This two-day event is designed to help you explore diverse career paths in academia, industry, government, and NGOs, while providing opportunities to network with faculty, alumni, and guest panelists. Also part of the event is a skill-building workshop (pizza provided!) led by CBS Career Advisor Julia Leary on translating graduate school skills to the workplace. This workshop will be held on April 28th from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in SSC 1511 and a pizza lunch will be provided for those attending in person.

COESP’s Biology Education Exchange (BEE) is a series of focused, informal, active workshops by teachers for teachers. The upcoming BEE event will take place on April 21st in SSC 3317 at 1:30 p.m. Come learn and talk about two ways of integrating AI into your teaching practices, with Dori McCombe and Dr. Tim Bartley leading the conversation.  Join us to exchange ideas, share resources, enhance teaching activities, and build community!  If you have any questions, please email Dr. Sarah Alderman at alderman@uoguelph.ca. 

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is a university-wide competition for graduate students with an exciting challenge: to explain your thesis in a clear and engaging way, using only one slide, and in only three minutes! Both the winner and runner up of the CBS heat will receive prizes ($250 and $150 gift cards, respectively) and move on to the University of Guelph final on April 30, 2026. The winner of the university-wide competition will receive a $1,000 prize towards their tuition and will go on to the provincial final held May 6 .