UNM's Grand Challenges and the Interdisciplinary Science Cooperative have teamed up to bring Grand Challenges Day and the Team Research Symposium together in one special event for the campus community. Faculty, staff, students, and alumni are invited to join in on the action, Thursday, Sept. 14 for this one-day event highlighting best practices in team research across campus.

UNM leadership is excited to make the first public announcement of the newest Level 2 Grand Challenges teams during the Grand Challenges portion of the day.

Everyone will have the opportunity to meet the new Grand Challenges Level 2 teams and the researchers leading the new category 3 institute. Research support officers will also have tables and will be available to answer questions and describe the types of support available to team researchers across campus.

“In the last year, we have ‘leveled-up’ and re-imagined our Grand Challenges Program to foster a more collaborative, inclusive and One University research atmosphere,” said Ellen Fisher, UNM vice president for research. “Our teams have really set the bar for success very high, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to begin the academic year with the launch of our newest level 2 teams.”

Several workshops, breakout discussions, networking sessions, and three panel discussions will be offered for UNM faculty, postdocs, staff, and students. Some highlighted workshop topics include:

  • Pro Tips and Tools for Team Research - faculty, postdocs, staff, and students welcome
  • UNM Student Research Programs Open House - Students interested in learning about the research programs offered throughout campus
  • Undergraduate Student Workshop: Team Research Using Sound Data Management

Panel sessions will include a discussion with UNM administrators who will present their research initiatives and priorities; a group of UNM researchers who will explore different ways communities can engage with research teams and shed light on UNM community engagement initiatives and resources; and five current and former students who will share their experiences in participating in interdisciplinary research programs at UNM and how those experiences have shaped their education.

“Working in teams is a requirement of many of the most vexing challenges in science and society – the Team Research Symposium and Grand Challenges help UNM students and faculty become more skilled at working in interdisciplinary teams by putting those skills to work to address the challenges New Mexico faces today and training students to do so in the future,” said Associate Dean for Research Chris Lippit, College of Arts & Sciences.

During lunch, undergraduates interested in the UNM Undergraduate Team Research Competition are encouraged to join a networking session with free pizza. The competition will be held at the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Conference (UROC) Friday, April 12, 2024. The winning team will receive a $2,000 prize, split evenly among all team members. 

For more information on the sessions, and to register here. For questions, contact the planning committee at Teams@unm.edu.