SEPA 2008: Annual NIH-NCRR Science Education Partnership Award Conference

The SEPA 2008: NCRR Science Education Partnership Award Annual Conference was held
May 19-21 at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, MD.
Principal Investigators, staff, evaluators, and teachers from 74 SEPA projects as well as NIH
NCRR staff members and other interested individuals participated in the Conference. A total of
181 individuals attended the Conference.

In order to assist SEPA projects in meeting the Academic Competitiveness Council’s
requirements for more rigorous project evaluations, the Conference had a strong focus on
evaluation. In addition, the Conference was designed to facilitate networking and information
exchange among SEPA projects; respondents to the SEPA 2006 Conference evaluation had
indicated that this was one of the most valuable aspects of the annual Conference. Holding the
Conference in the Washington, DC area facilitated participation by NIH NCRR leaders and staff
as well as those from other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs).