Tuesday June 16
Connection, Innovation & Shared Experiences

Available with the four-day conference registration

1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Tour 2: ARUP Laboratories

Explore one of the nation’s largest diagnostic labs, focusing on how research outcomes are translated into patient impact.
 

3:45 p.m.-5 p.m.
Tour 3: Orthopedic Innovation Center (OIC)

Inside look at groundbreaking orthopedic implants and dynamic compression innovations.

6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Dinner

TBD

Wednesday, June 17
Storytelling, Strategy and Skill-Building

8 a.m.-9:15 a.m.
Registration, Breakfast + Networking Bingo
Guest House Breakfast

Check in for the conference, enjoy a full hot breakfast with structured bingo-style networking prompts to help attendees make early connections.

9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m.
Opening & Welcome
Granite Ballroom

Speakers: Amanda Ashley, Katie Baillie

9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Keynote

Lisa Bickmore, Utah’s Poet Laureate

10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.
Break

Coffee, snacks, and informal peer networking.

11 a.m.-Noon
Driving Global Academic Interest
Granite Ballroom

Explore how academics source information and determine who is best in their field, based on global interviews and ranking survey data.

Speaker: Justin Shaw

Noon-1:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch

Open seating with conversation starters to encourage cross-institution exchange.

1:15 p.m.-2 p.m.
Visual Storytelling
Granite Ballroom

This session will explore how strong visuals can clarify complex ideas, deepen audience engagement, and create more memorable, impactful storytelling. Speakers: Dave Titensor and Jeff Hansen

2:10 p.m.-3:10 p.m.
Panel: Making Research Resonate: Strategies for Identifying and Engaging Audiences
Panelists: Julie Kiefer, Brian Maffly,
Granite Ballroom

Panelists: Julie Kiefer, Brian Maffly, Chase Austin, Andrew George

3:20 p.m.-4:20 p.m.
Concurrent Labs (choose one)
Breakout Rooms

• Bonneville Room – AI For Smarter Workflows with Chase Austin
• Granite Ballroom – Beyond the Agenda: Build Events People Remember with Caralynn Orbell

4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Bookclub: “The Glorians” by Terry Tempest Williams
Granite Ballroom

Moderated discussion with a local author, reflecting on their work and the craft of storytelling.

6 p.m.-8 p.m.
Networking Reception – and Award Announcement
James LeVoy Sorenson Center for Medical Innovation (15 Mario Capecchi Dr, Salt Lake City, UT)

Hosted drinks and heavy appetizers. Announcement of Distinguished Service Award.

Thursday, June 18
Skills, Storytelling and Stargazing

6:30 a.m.-7:15 a.m.
Sunrise Wellness Walk
University Guest House

Begin the day with a refreshing wellness walk through Fort Douglas, offering scenic views and a chance to connect with fellow attendees before sessions begin.

8 a.m.-9 a.m.
Daily Networking Bingo 
Granite Ballroom

Enjoy a structured bingo-style networking prompts to help attendees make early connections.

9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Editorial Roundtable
Main Meeting Space

Speakers: Seth Bracken, Lisa Anderson, Amy
Choate-Nielsen

10 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Firehose Presentations (5 minutes each)
Granite Ballroom

Open call for presenters

10:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
Break
Granite Ballroom

Coffee + snacks, hallway conversations.

11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
The Future of Research Storytelling
Granite Ballroom

Jakob Jensen: A forward-looking workshop exploring emerging platforms, AI-driven personalization, interactive formats and audience-first strategies shaping the next wave of science comms.

12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m.
Networking Lunch
Granite Ballroom

Open seating, curated conversation starters, and small-group idea sharing.

1:15 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
Group Photo
Granite Ballroom

1:30 p.m.-2:15 p.m.
Nuts & Bolts Session
Granite Ballroom

Peer insights on campaigns, strategies and key takeaways.

2:15 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Break
Granite Ballroom

Refresh, grab snacks and reset.

3:00 p.m.
Shuttle Pickup for Optional Lab Tour

3:30 p.m.-5 p.m.
Optional Tour: HGN Lab for Bionic Engineering
Utah Bionics Lab
Register

Behind-the-scenes look at advanced prosthetics and human performance technology, featuring demos and storytelling insights from lead researchers. Sign up required, limited spaces available.

5:00 p.m.
Shuttle Pickup to take guests back to Guest House

5 p.m.-7 p.m.
Dining on your own

7 p.m.-9 p.m.
URMA Film Festival
Post Theatre

Join us for the 7th Annual URMA Festival at the University of Utah’s historic Post Theatre, featuring compelling videos and documentaries from our member institutions that illuminate groundbreaking research, scientific discovery and history.

Friday, June 19
Farewell, Insights and Celebration

8:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Farewell Brunch + Bingo Awards + Attendee Insights
Granite Ballroom

Close out the conference over a relaxed brunch where we’ll celebrate Networking Bingo Award winners, (recognizing our top connectors), and host a guided attendee insights session where participants share their biggest takeaways, strategies, and inspiration from the week.

9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.
Closing the Loop: What This Week Taught Us About Story, Strategy, and Trust
Granite Ballroom

Join Amanda Ashley, Lauren Smart and Samanatha Everton for a reflective closing session highlighting key themes, insights, and takeaways from the week at URMA. This session will connect conversations around storytelling, audience engagement, emerging tools, visual communication, print, film, and strategy to the larger purpose of research communication: helping
discovery reach people with clarity, meaning, and impact.

10:45 a.m.-11 a.m.
Break

11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
URMA Business Meeting/ Strategy Session
Granite Ballroom

Official URMA Board updates, announcements, and the reveal of the next host site.

Noon
Send-Off

Final conversations and farewells