AAAS 2011

By Kathryn Scheckel

The opportunity to attend the 2011 AAAS Conference in Washington, D.C. with the generous support of the Biology and Society Department as well as The Barrett Honors College was one of the most exciting events of my undergraduate career. Despite having been involved in research opportunities for the past five years, I had previously never had the opportunity to attend such a prestigious international conference to present my work.

At the conference, I was able to listen to fascinating lectures from some of the most influential and powerful researchers in the world, including Dr. George M. Whitesides from Harvard, and Dr. Frances H. Arnold from Caltech. I also heard from promising researchers in other fields outside of my own research interests, including hearing perspectives on the teaching of evolution in the Islamic world, as well cutting-edge research on oral cancer. Acting as not only a representative of Arizona State University but also as a Student Session Aide during the conference heightened my experience even further allowing me to make direct contributions to the execution of such a thrilling meeting.

The most exciting part of my four days at the conference involved presenting my research poster in the Student Poster Competition. The opportunity to engage in productive discussions about my research project with six professors from across the U.S. pushed me to gain a deeper understanding of my project and challenged me to articulate my work effectively in this professional setting. Also, I was able to meet other students from different universities and learn about their exciting work, too. This invaluable opportunity will prepare me for my future graduate studies in science, law and business.