Tuesday
- The Van-Griner Learning Welcome Reception – Join your new summer besties and ABLE friends for snacks and beverages at the Iribe Center for our welcoming soiree.
Wednesday
- New Member Breakfast – First time conference attendees will gather with members of the Board for some early morning socializing over breakfast at South Campus Dining Hall.
- Business Meeting – Everyones absolute favorite! Take time to relax in an air-conditioned hall and listen to the latest news from your dedicated Board members, and discover where we be traveling for ABLE 2025.
• An Evening with Dr. Sean CarroIl – The Serengeti Rules: The Regulation and Restoration of Biodiversity.
Sean B. Carroll is currently Distinguished University Professor and Balo-Simon Chair of Biology at the University of Maryland, and an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Sean is the author of six books for general audiences including The Serengeti Rules, Brave Genius, The Making of the Fittest, Endless Forms Most Beautiful and Remarkable Creatures which was a finalist for the National Book Award for non-fiction. In 2016, Sean received the Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing about Science. From 2010-2023, Sean served as Vice President for Science Education of HHMI, and was Head of Tangled Bank Studios until late 2023, where he served as executive producer of nearly 50 feature or educational films, including the Emmy Award-winning The Serengeti Rules, based on his book of the same title. For his educational contributions, he has received the Stephen Jay Gould Prize for the advancement of the public understanding of evolution, the Viktor Hamburger Outstanding Educator Award from SDB, and the Distinguished Service Award from NABT.
Thursday
- Special Presentations by our Sponsors – Take advantage of the opportunity to attend one of the special in-person demonstrations hosted by our wonderful Sponsors!
- The SimBio Poster Reception – We will be featuring a new twist this year, combining two perennial favorites: the Poster Session and the Happy Hour Mixer! After all, what makes discussing posters better than doing it with a drink in your hand?
Friday
- The Van-Griner Learning Ice Cream Social – Join your ABLE community in celebrating another year of awesome mini workshops on Friday afternoon by indulging in some hand-scooped ice cream made by our very own Maryland Dairy!
- The Catalyst Education Banquet – The 2024 ABLE Conference banquet will be held on campus at The Hall CP. This amazing venue includes both indoor and outdoor areas to hang out with all of your ABLE friends as well as fun games like cornhole and pickleball. The theme of the party is going to be a Maryland crab feast. This means that, in addition to the great foods you would expect at a top-notch picnic, there will be Chesapeake Bay blue crabs! If you haven’t enjoyed this regional delicacy before, don’t worry – there are plenty of locals who have volunteered to show you how to get sweet meat out of these feisty crustaceans. In addition to dinner, your ticket includes your first two drinks with a cash bar available. Dress comfortably and come join us for fun, games, and crabs. (Cost: $115)
