Over four months ago, I had the opportunity to attend and present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Long Beach, California. 4,300 people gathered for a common purpose: to celebrate STEM fields and Course-Based Undergraduate Research. The Long Beach Convention Center was buzzing with excitement for the days of networking and education that lay ahead. By the end of the keynote speech, I was invigorated by the atmosphere and in awe of Dana Bolles, External Information Technology Lead – NASA Headquarters. Witnessing the keynote speaker roll onto the stage in her elevated powerchair wasn’t out of the ordinary or unusual in my personal experience with disability, as I have several disabled family members. What sticks with me, even now, are Dana’s Key Takeaways:
There’s a flip side to every situation
Love your whole self
Don’t make assumptions about others
Be fully present
Listening to Dana’s keynote speech at NCUR moved me; learning that she, herself, was a transfer student was inspiring. Her emphasis on the value of connecting and networking with STEM peers, her passion for STEM career advocacy, and her general attitude and philosophy on overcoming adversity were extremely motivating and spoke to my own life experiences with adversity and loss. If the only takeaway from this conference was the keynote speech, I would have been complete. As it turns out– this wasn’t my only takeaway.
As a nontraditional student, a mother of three, and a first-generation college student, attending university is intimidating, but something that I have yearned for with a fiery gut. If you asked me two years ago if I would present research on the Bees of the Sonoran Desert at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, I would have said you are out of your mind. In April, this is exactly what I did, and had an incredible experience speaking with not only fellow students but three different professors who specifically sought out my research poster to come and speak with me. I was honored to share my research project, and shed light on a few bee misconceptions, and enjoyed educating others about our incredibly biodiverse bee populations.
Presenting my research helped me work through anxiety around public speaking, and gave me confidence. Embracing my speech challenges in a public setting where I wasn’t the only person presenting brought me a huge sense of accomplishment. Witnessing the different types of research and STEM fields also fanned the fire in my gut, and is fuel for my career in STEM.
Being immersed in the NCUR experience absolutely builds my identity within the STEM community. I felt at home and in my element, surrounded by other eager learners and academics, all working toward a common purpose: building ourselves through research, and exposure to other STEM fields, each cumulatively adding new stepping stones as we pave our way into a brighter future, together.
While at the conference, I pondered: Is there a future where scientists, academics, and the greater community tackle Wicked Problems as a collaborative team, each contributing their interests and specialties to problem solve, and offer voices to all populations impacted by the aforementioned Wicked Problems? Witnessing the passion, curiosity, drive, and discipline of the participants, I felt hopeful– this led me to conclude: Yes, I do think it is possible to untangle tough, Wicked Problems through the power of education, a strong foundation in the scientific process, exposure to research, alongside the development of empathy and inclusion. I carry this hopefulness with me now, and it motivates me to continue along my path in STEM. So much so, that I will apply for graduate school this fall!
Were it not for my experience in my Course-Based Undergraduate Research Biology class taught by Jennifer Katcher, MS (who encouraged me to apply to NCUR!), the travel stipend and grant I received while working with both Kelley Merriam-Castro, PhD, Program Manager, Undergraduate Research Initiatives and Student Engagement & Career Development, and Jenni Batchelder, PhD, ASEMS Director, I would not have attended NCUR 2024. Many family conversations around my experience there would have to be taken back and undone. The growth potential I aim to model for my children, regardless of their age, would be set back tenfold. Because of my experience with presenting undergraduate research, I have inspired my children to seek careers in STEM-related fields. My daughter, who is afraid of higher math, has decided she could “become friends with math” to obtain a career in STEM where the pay is on average 30-40% higher than in non-STEM fields. Fortunately, she is a bit financially motivated, and I am not afraid to lean into this to inspire her interest in STEM!
My singular experience at NCUR 2024 has not only touched me, it has touched 8 of my family members, so many of my neighbors and their children, many of my friends’ children, and other students… the reach is truly beyond just a single attendee.
I am so grateful for my opportunity to attend NCUR 2024, and have Kelley Merriam-Castro, PhD, and others with Undergraduate Research Initiatives and Student Engagement & Career Development Center; Jenni Batchelder, PhD, director of ASEMS Director, the University of Arizona | Research, Innovation & Impact’s STEM Learning Center; Jennifer Katcher, MS, and the Tucson Bee Collaborative to thank for this priceless opportunity. Thank you, from the depths of my fiery gut– I am indebted to you all.
