2024's NWBIO is coming!

May 3rd - May 5th, 2024

Abstract Submissions and Registration are open now.
use the links to the left to submit
Registration closes Friday, April 19th, 2024.

Download registration information sheet here
(contains professional development information)

Download a one-page .pdf flyer here

NWBIO 2024 is hosted at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA
you can visit them here


 

Questions about NWBIO? Contact Alaron Lewis

To keep informed about NWBIO events, please join our Facebook group




Registration

Please use this form to register.

Registration is open until April 19th

Accommodations


Bellingham has a variety of awesome accommodation options.

We have reserved a block of rooms at The Hampton Inn by Hilton and Home2Suites by Hilton near Whatcom Community College at the government rate of $107.00 per room per night. These hotels are managed by the same group and so when booking, you might be at one location or the other. Additional information is below:

Rates: 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed at $107.00 plus tax
Dates: May 3-5, 2024
Cutoff Date: April 12, 2024
To Book: To book an individual reservation call hotel and mention that you would like to book under the 2024 NW BIO Instructors WCC group block rate
or book online by using the following link

Amenities: Complimentary hot breakfast buffet every morning. Free parking (EV available), BLI airport shuttle, high speed Wi-Fi, indoor saline pool, hot tub, and gym included. We are pet friendly, offer hypoallergenic rooms, outdoor space, and guest laundry.

Other hotels you could use are:
Helitotrope Hotel
Spring Hill Suites
Hotel Bellwether


Parking


Good news! Whatcom Community College has free parking, meaning no permits required! The majority of our conference schedule will take place in the Syre Student Center (SSC) and in Kulshan Hall (KUL) on the following map. So, we recommend parking in one of the lots adjacent to these buildings, specifically YELLOW, ORANGE, BLUE or GREEN (download map).

For campus directions and additional information, click here

Abstract Submissions


Abstract submissions are now open.

Use this form to submit your abstract



Conference Program


Click here for the program in .pdf format


Here is the current plan for the organization of conference activities. All activities and meals will take place in Syre Student Center unless otherwise noted.

Friday May 3

•4pm–5:30pm: Check-in opens for conference. Vendor tables and networking time.
•5:30–6:30pm: Welcome address, Dinner and beverages provided.
•6:30pm: Keynote address by Dr. Dayna Defeo and Dr. Sarah Gerken from University of Alaska, Anchorage

Saturday May 4

•8am–9am: Vendor tables and networking time. Breakfast provided.
•9am–noon: Presentation sessions and workshops (Located in Kulshan Hall)
•noon–1pm: pick up boxed lunches and organize for field trips
•1pm–4pm: field trips
•4:30pm–5:30pm: Happy Hour Business Meeting, appetizers and beverages provided.
•5:30pm–6:30pm: Dinner Served
•6:30pm: Keynote address by Beavers Northwest

Sunday May 5

•8am–9am: Vendor tables and networking time. Light breakfast provided.light breakfast (provided)
•9am–11am: Workshops and roundtables (Located in Kulshan Hall)
•11am: End of conference address

Field Trips


A detailed list of all field trip information is here in .pdf format



GUIDED FIELD TRIPS

Outrigger Canoe tour with local biologist and paddling enthusiast Andy Snow
Come and experience paddling in Bellingham Bay in an outrigger canoe! Enjoy the scenic views while being guided by a local canoe club. Participants will launch with experienced paddlers after a brief outrigger canoe education and safety discussion. No experience needed! Paddles, pfds, and laughs will be provided! Please wear water shoes, and a few layers. Note: this experience is weather dependent- rain is fine, but rough waves are not.

Local Craft Brewery Tour
Bellingham is home to a hoppin' (pun intended) craft brewery scene. With 17 craft breweries in Whatcom County, 14 of which are inside the city limits, we are passionate about our beer. Join us on a tour of one of our local craft breweries to hear about the science and art of brewing. Exact brewery location will be finalized shortly.

Northwest Natura
Join Naturalist, Jazmen Yoder with Northwest Natura on a gentle walk through the forest of Whatcom Falls Park to learn about traditional and modern uses of PNW native plants found growing in the historical Whatcom Creek area. This course will focus on identifying native plants and discussing their ethnobotanical uses (food, fiber, medicine, or shelter), and will also include discourse on any fungi, lichen, and wildlife we find along the trail. Things to bring with you: Dress for the weather; snacks and water; notebook and pen (optional); DSLR Camera (optional); your favorite field guide (optional); You will need good shoes for walking, but not necessarily hiking boots.

Tidal Vision
Tidal Vision is a local Bellingham company that uses the chitin from crab fisheries byproducts to create a biopolymer that can be used in water treatment, agriculture, and material science applications. Join some of the scientists from Tidal Vision to geek out on the science behind chitin itself, how its structure is altered during refinement, the fascinating molecular features of the refined chitosan, and how it is being used in a wide variety of industries.

Local Distillery Tour
Beer not your thing? or perhaps it is, but you are also interested in learning about the science behind distilling. Join us on an immersive tour of one of our local distilleries where you will learn about the history and science of the local craft distillery. Exact distillery location will be finalized shortly!

Self-Guided Field Trips
Details can be found in the .pdf field trip list linked above

•Mountain biking at Galbraith

•Disc Golf at BellisFair Ways

•Walking Tour at Big Rock Sculpture Garden

•Walk or Bike the Bellingham Tap Trail

•Bellingham History Walking (or Virtual) Tours

What is NWBIO?

NWBIO (Northwest Biology Instructor's Organization) began in 1966 as a way to facilitate dialogue between faculty of Washington State community colleges, universities, and private four-year colleges, on pedagogical and scientific problems in the field of biology. Originally called WACBT (Washington Association of College Biology Teachers), NWBIO now includes additional faculty from British Columbia, Oregon, and Northern Idaho.

love petri plate

Past Annual Conferences

2024

Whatcom Community College, Bellingham WA

2023

Centralia College and South Puget Sound Community College

2022

UW Bothell and Cascadia College

2021

no conference this year

2020

Wenatchee Valley College (canceled due to COVID)

2019

Yamhill Campus Chemeketa Community College

2018

Portland Community College

2017

University of Washington, Tacoma & Tacoma CC

2016

Lane CC and University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

2015

University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC

2014

Bellevue Community College

2013

Pasco, Columbia Basin College

2012

Everett Community College

2011

Yakima Valley Community College

2010

Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor College

2009

Astoria, Clatsop Community College

2008

Salem, Chemeketa Community College

2007

Pack Forest, Edmonds Community College

2006

Bainbridge Island, Bellevue Community College

2005

Gresham, Mt Hood Community College

2004

Tacoma, Tacoma Community College and University of Washington-Tacoma

2003

Yakima, Yakima Valley Community College

2002

Bremerton, Olympic College? and North Seattle Community College

2001

Vancouver, WA, Clark College

2000

Vancouver, B.C., Langara College and the University of British Columbia

1999

Eugene, Lane Community College and the University of Oregon

1998

Seattle, Seattle Central CC and Seattle Pacific University

1997

Everett, Everett CC and University of Washington

1996

Aberdeen, Grays Harbor CC

1995

Portland, Mt Hood CC and Portland CC

1994

Spokane Falls, Spokane Falls CC and Washington State University

1993

Camp Waskowitz, North Seattle CC and Bellevue CC

1992

Ellensburg, Yakima Valley CC and Central Washington University

1991

Camp Casey, Shoreline CC and Skagit Valley CC

1990

Cispus, Lower Columbia CC

1989

Cheney, Eastern Washington University

1988

Abbotsford, B.C., Fraser Valley College

1987

Pack Forest, Seattle University

1986

Everett, Everett CC

1985

Moses Lake, Big Bend CC

1984

Castlegar, B.C., Selkirk College

1983

Lake Wilderness, University of Washington

1982

Sunquist Lab, Skagit Valley CC

1981

Fort Wright, Spokane CC

1980

Gwinwood, The Evergreen State College

1979

Camp Casey, Seattle Pacific University

1978

Cispus, Centralia College and Central Washington University

1977

Battelle Northwest, Columbia Basin CC

1976

Camp David, Peninsula CC

1975

Camp Seymour, Tacoma CC

1974

Gonzaga Retreat House, Spokane Falls CC

1973

Pack Forest, Highline CC

1972

Roche Harbor, Bellevue CC

1971

Lake Quinalt,Grays Harbor CC

1970

Camp Field, Wenatchee Valley College

1969

Hidden Valley Ranch, Green River CC

1968

Everett, Everett CC

1967

Stehekin, Shoreline CC

1966

Rosario Beach, Shoreline CC and Everett CC