Community Conversations Series (Formerly Exchange of Experience Virtual Group)

Hosted by the Training & Education Working Group 

*Name change Jan 2026: Please note the name of this event series has changed from “EoE Virtual Group” to “Community Conversations Series”

Meetings take place each month on the Last Wednesday of the month @ 10 am PT/ 12 pm CT/ 1 pm ET (60min). They are FREE and open to anyone! You do not need to be a BINA member to attend, but one-time registration is required – Register here!

The sessions often include a short presentation followed by a chance for discussion of the topic (see Past Topics below). Whether you are new to working in a core or have many years of experience and/or learn from those of others.

Please note that in order to encourage participation, most events are not recorded.

Registering for this series does not automatically enroll you as a BINA member. We strongly encourage you to become a BINA member – it is free and you can join here

Up Next: 2025.03.25 – Community Conversation: Image Analysis in Core facilities 

Event Abstract:

As light microscopy technologies continue to advance and image analysis workflows grow more sophisticated, core facilities face increasing pressure to support users with widely varying levels of experience. High‑quality data and meaningful quantitative results depend not only on powerful instruments and software, but also on effective user education, thoughtful onboarding, and sustained guidance across the entire imaging pipeline. This panel brings together experts from academia and industry who specialize in both light microscopy and image analysis to explore how facilities can better prepare researchers for success—from sample preparation and acquisition to segmentation, quantification, and data interpretation.

Through a dynamic, interactive discussion, panelists will share practical strategies for assessing user needs, designing impactful training programs, and integrating analysis literacy into microscopy instruction. They will highlight common pitfalls, emerging tools (including AI‑driven approaches), and the evolving relationship between acquisition and analysis. Audience members will be invited to contribute live via Padlet, sharing their own challenges, questions, and workflow experiences to shape the conversation in real time.

This session is designed for anyone involved in imaging—facility staff, educators, tool developers, and researchers—who wants to improve user onboarding, strengthen training ecosystems, and build more confident, capable imaging communities. Participants will leave with actionable ideas for elevating user support and fostering reproducible, quantitative microscopy.

Past Topics:

• 2026.02.25 – Essentials of managing and strengthening an imaging core: Core operations, community building, and strategies for sustainable growth
• 2026.01.28 – Exploring the Impact of AI on Light Microscopy
• 2025.10.29 – Developing Community and Resources for Solo-Staffed Cores
• 2025.09.24 – Community Conversation: Considerations for evaluating instruments for your core facility
• 2025.06.25 – Community Conversation and Connections
• 2025.05.28 – “Maine Microscopy: Democratizing Microscopy Education for Local Scientists” by Frederic Bonnet, MDIBL COBRE LMF Core Director
• 2025.04.30 – “From Backbone to Breakthroughs: Measuring Core Facility Contributions” by Laurence Lejeune ft. “How to clone yourself for users in your facility” by James Chambers
• 2025.03.26 – Accommodating Physical Disabilities in Microscopy
• 2025.02.26 – Networking a core: Concerns and obstacles when collaborating with IS&T
• 2024.12.11 – Successfully Integrating AI into Imaging Core Facility Workflows at 12 pm CT
• 2024.10.30 – Improving microscopy trainings with pedagogy: an interactive workshop
• 2024.06.26 – BINA’s Translation Efforts
• 2024.05.29 – Spatial Omics
• 2024.04.24 – Business Plan Development
• 2024.03.27 – BINA Metrology Suitcase Program
• 2024.02.28 – Imaging Facility Design/Redesign
• 2024.01.31 – EoE 2 Year Anniversary: Recap and Going Forward
• 2023.11.29 – Image Data Sharing Continued
• 2023.10.25 – Marketing your Core
• 2023.09.27 – LABIxBINA
• 2023.08.30 – Seeding Labs
• 2023.06.28 – Summer Open Discussion
• 2023.05.31 – MicroscopyDB
• 2023.04.26 – Leadership & Management Skills Training Opportunities
• 2023.03.29 – Image Data Sharing
• 2023.02.22 – K-12 Outreach
• 2023.01.25 – Tips and Tricks for video training
• 2022.11.30 – Technology User Groups
• 2022.10.26 – Participated in the Community Congress instead
• 2022.09.28 – Best Practices in Training
• 2022.08.31 – Getting Started in Your Core
• 2022.07.27 – Summer Fruit Basket
• 2022.06.29 – Challenges of Single Person Cores
• 2022.05.25 – Core Facility Management Software Options
• 2022.04.27 – How to decide the cost for core facility services?
• 2022.03.31 – Strategies for Acquiring New Instrumentation
• 2022.02.23 – Acquiring New Technologies
• 2022.01.26 – Core Facility Management