Social Events

20th Anniversary Undergraduate Program Celebration

Saturday, March 14, Time: 7:00 PM–9:00 PM
Room 343
Baltimore Convention Center

Chairperson(s): Claude McGowan, Johnson & Johnson, Skillman, NJ and Vicente Santa Cruz, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, Brussels, Belgium

Sponsor: Committee for Diversity Initiatives

The Anniversary Celebration honors previous program participants and organizers and is open to all who have been connected to the Undergraduate Program for Minority Students since 1989.

7:00 PM–8:00 PM	Welcome Lecture: The Beginning of the Future Keynote Speakers: Faye Calhoun Broadwater, North Carolina Central State University, Durham, NC, and Marion Ehrich, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA Presentation: Perry J. Gehring Diversity Travel Award to Vanessa Y. De La Rosa, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX
8:00 PM–9:00 PM	Dessert and Networking

Awards Ceremony Music Performed by Maryland Sings

Sunday, March 15, Time: 4:45 PM–5:15 PM
Room 321
Baltimore Convention Center

Maryland Sings, a 501(c)3 non-profit company of Broadway-type singers and dancers, delivers a well-crafted, extremely unique, and highly mature sound for middle and high school performers. The company, now in its 19th season, has performed for audiences in eight European countries, in the East Room of the White House, and throughout the State of Maryland. These talented young people have recorded several CDs and have also performed for a number of local television and radio broadcasts over the years.

Awards Ceremony

Sunday, March 15, Time: 5:15 PM–6:30 PM
Room 321
Baltimore Convention Center

(Open to all attendees)

Join us as SOT honors our prestigious award winners at the SOT Awards Ceremony. Please refer to the Awards and Fellowships section of the SOT Web site for complete details about the awards and submitting the nominations for the next year.

Welcoming Reception

Sunday, March 15, Time: 6:30 PM–7:30 PM
Ballroom
Baltimore Convention Center

Continue the celebration by attending the Welcoming Reception following the Awards Ceremony. The Welcoming Reception is a great opportunity to renew old friendships and to make new acquaintances. Please join the Society in this kick-off of the Annual Meeting.

25-Year (Or More) Member Reception

Sunday, March 15, Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM
Charles Street VIP Suite/Toxicology History Room
Baltimore Convention Center

Have you been a member of the Society of Toxicology for 25 years (or more)? If so, please join your colleagues in celebration and recognition of the scientists who established the Society. Note that this year some of your colleagues will be sporting 35-year member pins.

Student/Postdoctoral Fellow Mixer

Sunday, March 15, Time: 7:30 PM–8:30 PM
Camden Lobby
Baltimore Convention Center

(Ticket Required)

Sponsor: Student Advisory Council

The Student Advisory Committee hosts this opportunity for students and postdoctoral fellows to gather, to meet new colleagues, and to reestablish relationships in an informal atmosphere at the beginning of the meeting. Tickets are obtained at no cost by registering for this event on the Annual Meeting Registration Form. Ticket and meeting badge are required. Complimentary refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

In Vitro Toxicology Lecture and Luncheon for Students

Monday, March 16, Time: 12:15 PM–1:30 PM
Room 339
Baltimore Convention Center

(Ticket Required)

Chairperson(s): George B. Corcoran, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, and William S. Stokes, NTP, NIEHS, Research Triangle Park, NC

Title: The 3R's in Animal Use and a Prospective In Vitro Screening Tool for Identifying Potential Immunotoxicants

Lecturer: Courtney E.W. Sulentic, Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Sponsor: Colgate-Palmolive Company

The purpose of this lecture is to discuss the importance of animal research to biomedical sciences and toxicology and the ethical obligations of the scientific community to follow the "3R's" of animal testing (refine, reduce, replace) whenever it is feasible. Following this discussion the remainder of the lecture will briefly describe Dr. Sulentic’s current research utilizing an in vitro alternative to understand mechanisms in altered immune function. The immune system is critical to human survival but also plays a contributing role in various mechanisms of toxicity. Assessing alterations of immune function by potential immunotoxicants is complicated by the diffuse nature of the immune system which is composed of various effector cells each with differing functions. Current immunotoxicity testing relies heavily on animal studies underscoring the need to develop and implement alternative approaches. Dr. Sulentic will discuss a cell line model developed to provide an in vitro alternative to animal studies in identifying immunotoxicants that specifically target B-cell function (i.e., alteration of immunoglobulin expression and antibody secretion) as well as elucidating the mechanisms of altered B-cell function.

Graduate students, undergraduates, postdoctoral scholars, and recipients of Colgate-Palmolive awards are among the guests at the In Vitro Toxicology Lecture and Luncheon. The goal of the In Vitro Toxicology Lecture series is to feature important research using in vitro and alternative techniques to study basic mechanisms and to illustrate how these test methods benefit animal welfare by refining and reducing animal use. Students and postdocs can reserve a ticket for the luncheon with a $5 deposit when they register for the SOT Annual Meeting. Lunch is served at the beginning of the event and service concludes before the talk/main program begins. Meal service may not be available to guests who arrive after 12:30 PM.

Postdoctoral Assembly Luncheon

Tuesday, March 17, Time: 12:00 NOON–1:15 PM
Room 339
Baltimore Convention Center

(Ticket Required)

Chairperson(s): Heather Floyd, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX

Sponsor: Postdoctoral Assembly

Amidst scrambling to attend all of the events at the meeting, this will be time for postdocs to kick back and relax! All postdoctoral fellows are invited to a casual luncheon organized by the Postdoctoral Assembly (PDA). We will announce the recipients of the Best Postdoctoral Publication Awards and acknowledge the postdocs who received awards this year from Specialty Sections and Regional Chapters. The PDA Board members will present an overview of accomplishments and future directions for the PDA and will introduce the new board members for 2009–2010. There will be a drawing for prizes. Postdocs can reserve a ticket when registering for the Annual Meeting. Lunch is served at the beginning of the event and service concludes before the talk/ main program begins. Meal service may not be available to guests who arrive after 12:30 PM.

Regional Chapter Receptions

Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18, Various Times

(Refer to the chart for more details)

Many of the SOT Regional Chapters meet during the SOT Annual Meeting. All current and prospective Regional Chapter members are encourage to attend.

Special Interest Group Receptions

Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18, Various Times

(Refer to the chart for more details)

Each of the 6 Special Interest Groups will hold a meeting/reception during the 2009 SOT Annual Meeting at the Hilton Hotel or at a local venue. All current and prospective SOT Special Interest Group members are encouraged to attend.

Specialty Section Receptions

Monday, March 16 through Wednesday, March 18, Various Times

(Refer to the chart for more details)

Each of the 22 SOT Specialty Sections will hold either a luncheon or early evening meeting/reception during the SOT 2009 Annual Meeting. All current and prospective SOT Specialty Section members are encouraged to attend.

Lunch with an Expert

Date and time varies by group (Meet at Bulletin Board in Registration Area)

This event is an informal gathering of a small group of students and a Toxicology Expert. Sign up via the Lunch with an Expert Registration on the SOT Web site. The groups are matched by research interests and the Expert for each group identifies a time and place to assemble. Details for the group meeting will be sent advance of meeting.