IRISS SERVICES
Training and Professional Development for Scientists
Teaming 101
Who: Groups of all sizes including PIs, Pre and Post-Docs, researchers, community liasons, etc
What: Working on a team can be a challenge! Have you ever said, "I hate group projects," or "It isn't natural for me to work on a team?" There are basic science of team science (SciTS) principles such as even turn-taking, followership, practicing social sensitivity, and inclusion of diversity that can improve team experiences! This interactive workshop uses group exercises to demonstrate best practices. Group discussion will explore ways that students, staff, and senior scientists each play different roles in creating fun and effective teams. Participants will leave the workshop with specific action steps for improving current and future team experiences.
Time: 2 hours – 4 hours
Principal Investigator Leadership Training
Who: PI’s and other senior scientists
What: Team science training targeted to support PI’s. The training covers much of the same research as Teaming 101, but is focused specifically the steps that senior scientists can take to improve their teams. The training will cover leadership tools and demonstrate teaming concepts to support PI’s in adopting best practices for team science. Topics include: even turn-taking, followership, social sensitivity, roles and responsibilities, distributed leadership, and inclusion of diversity.
Time: Half-day
Pre and Post-Doctoral Team Science Training
Who: Pre and Post-Doctoral Students
What: Team science training targeted to support students The training is similar to the Team Science Training listed above except it is targeted for students. The training will cover followershipt, turn-taking, team diversity, gender inclusivity, and concepts to support students in best practices for team science.
Time: Half-day
Workshops for Emerging and Existing Teams
Building new teams does not need to be a struggle, it can be fun and enlivening. We strive to help each team easily adopt new practices that will elevate their capacity to do innovative science. We have developed a series of workshops and retreat formats designed specifically to increase capacity of transdisciplinary teams.
Communicating Across Disciplines Workshop
Who: Whole teams, small (6-8) to large (over 20)
What: Building capacity for transdisciplinary teams begins with learning to communicate across the disciplines. We facilitate a structured conversation that helps teams learn what language and norms they have in common and what new concepts and approaches each discipline brings that is unique. Our previous teams report that this is one of the most valuable team workshops.
Time: 3-4 hours (in person, virtual)
Teaming Workshop
Who: Whole teams, small (6-8) to large (over 20)
What: The field Science of Team Science (SciTS) has identified a variety of best practices that differentiate high performing transdisciplinary teams from teams that struggle or fail to meet their objectives. In this workshop, we introduce key practices from the SciTS literature, demonstrate best practices through experiential learning, and coach teams in adopting practices in ways that suit their team culture.
Time: 3-4 hours (in person, virtual)
Developing an Integrated Vision Workshop
Who: Whole teams, small (6-8) to large (over 20)
What: One of the challenges for new transdisciplinary teams is to develop a clear vision that integrates ideas from across the team and that all members understand and can quickly communicate. With every additional team member or stakeholder, this visioning process becomes ever more challenging. Our team will meet with a small core group, discuss team history and objectives, and develop a plan for a workshop suited to your groups stage of development.
Time: 4 hours – 3 days (depending in team size and history of working together)
Knowledge Innovation Retreats
Who: Whole teams, small (6-8) to large (over 20)
What: We help facilitate large and small scientific teams at key points in their development: 1) when they are first forming, 2) at yearly retreats, 3) when membership changes substantially, and 4) when teams are moving in a new direction. Teams meet for one to three full days to work to craft a vision, develop research agendas, and efficiently iterate through the divergent and convergent thinking process. Brining in a third party facilitator allows all scientists on the team to be engaged participants in the conversation and iteration of knowledge. Let us take care of the agenda, ensuring even participation, having fun, and moving through the difficult groan zone required to make team breakthroughs. Colorado State University has spaces on the main campus and at the Mountain Campus ideal for multi-day retreats, or we can come to your site. Contact us for more information and a free consultation to scope a custom retreat.
Time: 1 day -4 days
Developmental Evaluation
Who: Whole teams
What: Interested in having a SciTS researcher study and coach your team? A social scientist will engage your team in a rigorous research study to track the development of your team using social network analysis and other social science tools. Contact us for more information and a free consultation to scope the project.
Time: SciTS researcher follows teams for 2-4 years
ZOOM! Creative Problem Solving in Teams
Who: Groups of all sizes (not required to be a team)
What: This training provides a short overview of foundational literature in team science and then walks participants through an interactive group activity that emphasizes the value of working as a member of a team. This fun interactive session is great for existing teams as a team building exercise, or for large groups as a demonstration of teaming principals in action.
Time: 2 hours