Special events

The Local Organizing Committee of the 2025 In Vitro Biology Meeting has made special efforts to arrange for some very exciting events during the SIVB Annual Meeting in Norfolk for the education and enjoyment of the attendees.  Learn about these special events below and purchase your tickets as soon as possible. Don’t wait though. Space is limited and you don’t want to miss out on these special experiences.

Cruising with the Spirit: Dining and Dancing on the Elizabeth River

Join SIVB on Tuesday, June 10 from 5:45 pm – 8:45 pm, for a very special cruise aboard the Spirit of Norfolk. Relax with your colleagues after a dynamic meeting to enjoy amazing views while cruising along the Elizabeth River. From the moment you are welcomed aboard, there will be no need to stay in your seat. This casual, yet festive, atmosphere will offer dining from an extensive buffet, dancing to DJ entertainment, and enjoying games on the skyline deck. Or just relax on the rooftop lounge while taking in the incredible views of the Battleship Wisconsin, Hampton Roads Harbor, and Norfolk Naval Base as the sun begins to set. It all adds up to the perfect Norfolk experience! This special evening event begins only two short blocks from the Hilton Norfolk The Main. You and your colleagues will meet at the boat dock to board at 5:45 pm and the cruise will end at 8:45 pm. The cost for this special evening is only $115 and includes the boat cruise, entertainment, views, and dinner. A cash bar will be available. A limited number of discounted tickets will be made available to student registrants at the rate of $60.00. Limited tickets will be available at the Registration Desk while supplies last.

Wednesday Scientific Tour: Science and Cells in Hampton Roads

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, SIVB will offer its first all-day scientific tour exploring some of the best plant and animal science to be found in the Hampton Roads, Virginia, USA area.

The first of the three locations to be visited is LifeNetHealth in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Enhance your understanding of allograft tissues and biospecimens by exploring the donation process and the science and technology behind tissue processing. Discovery how LifeNet Health’s global team gives healing every advantage. This visit will conclude with a refreshment break before boarding the bus to travel to the second tour location.

Next, you will travel to William and Mary University in Williamsburg, Virginia. William & Mary (W&M) was founded in 1693, the second oldest college in US history (second after Harvard University). The Department of Biology supports the greenhouse and herbarium with staff, student volunteer and work time, and other resources as required for its educational and research missions. The W&M Arboretum is a project initiated by the University President and is a collaboration of W&M Administration, Facilities Department, and the School of Arts & Sciences/Biology Department. There you will visit the following locations:

  • The greenhouse is divided into research bays for faculty and student projects and educational areas housing plants that represent a range of plant families, providing living examples of pantropical species.
  • The herbarium currently houses over 85,000 vascular plant specimens primarily representing naturally occurring flora of the southeastern coastal plain physiographic region. Our collection is used by researchers within the herbarium and world-wide, as it is imaged and shared on-line as part of several digital website portals.
  • The W&M arboretum is a newly envisioned project to catalogue the campus woody plantings and provide access to the community at large. Our mature landscape is the result of work from academic predecessors who planted a rich green heritage to inspire, instruct, and beautify the campus.

Finally, you will return to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, to enjoy a private showing in the Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium. Guiding the curiosity of Hampton Roads and beyond, this planetarium serves as a beacon of exploration, education, and inspiration. With a commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of the cosmos, they strive to ignite wonder and a lifelong passion for astronomy through captivating, immersive experiences. Our mission is to connect people of all ages to the mysteries of the cosmos and empowering them to explore, discover, and appreciate the beauty of the Universe in which we live. Immerse yourself in a journey through space and time in their breathtaking 122-seat theater. From the comfort of a plush, reclined seat you’ll feel like you’re flying through Earth’s atmosphere to the far reaches of the universe.

Tour Schedule:

8:00 am            Depart from the Hilton Norfolk The Main
8:30 am            Tour LifeNet Health (including coffee/refreshment break)
10:30 am          Depart for Wiliam and Mary University
11:30 am          Tour William and Mary’s Greenhouse, Herbarium, Arboretum
2:30 pm            Depart for Old Dominion University
3:30 pm            Enjoy the Planetarium show, “Birth of Planet Earth”
5:00 pm            Depart for the Hilton Norfolk The Main
5:30 pm            Tour concludes with drop off at Hilton Norfolk The Main

The cost for this tour is $102.00 and will include visits to LifeNET Health; William and Mary’s Arboretum, Herbarium, and Greenhouses; and Old Dominion University’s Michael and Kimthanh Lê Digital Theater and Planetarium, plus a mid-morning coffee break, boxed lunch, and bus transportation. Limited tickets will be available at the Registration Desk while supplies last.