Conference a celebration of science, culture
Two SDSU-IV students, Dianna Hurtado and Fernanda Figueroa, presented their research at the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Diversity in STEM ( Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Conference, which was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from Oct. 19 to 21. SACNAS supports national diversity in STEM by encouraging minorities in science to thrive within their fields of study. The conference, which is the largest multicultural and multidisciplinary STEM diversity conference in the county, is described as a “celebration of science, culture and community.” The students had the opportunity to attend with the support of their research mentor, Linda Abarbanell, Assistant Professor in Psychology, and funds provided by SDSU-IV. The students each described their experience:
Fernanda Figueroa (Psychology, ‘18)
There is a common misconception about SDSU- IV, in which people believe that studying at a small campus means having less opportunities and resources. In reality, the opportunities and resources are there, students just have to stay involved and look out for them.
I began doing research last spring at SDSU- IV with the help of my mentor, Abarbanell. We were interested in the cultural beliefs and structural factors that affect the treatment choices of cancer patients living at the US-Mexico border. Since this past summer, I have been conducting interviews with individuals who have cancer in the Imperial Valley to learn about their experiences. When I heard about the opportunity to present my research at this conference, I knew it would be a great place to network, learn, and grow. I was not mistaken. Being a Mexican-American at SACNAS made me feel comfortable and identified with my own culture in a setting where Hispanic attendees predominated. Seeing people that look just like me and are doing great things in research, motivated me to continue doing what I’m doing and to want to pursue a higher level of education. Universities were there from all over the country, and the fact that representatives from various universities walked up to my poster presentation and asked me to consider applying to their program, explaining why I would be a good fit, put me at such an advantage. It exposed me to other options and opportunities. I left Utah feeling inspired, ready, and motivated for graduate school.
This was the third time I have presented at a conference, so I know how intimidating it can be to stand beside your poster and present to all of these strangers ( judges, too). However, if you never step out of your comfort zone and do things that you never thought you could or that intimidate you, there is no room for growth. I encourage SDSU-IV students to get involved on campus and not be discouraged because of the campus size or location; there are so many resources and opportunities to take advantage of.
Dianna Hurtado, (Psychology, ’ 17, Credential Program in Education, ’18)
I, Dianna Hurtado, presented my research, “Language and Thought in Tseltal Mayan: New Evidence from Two Tasks.” The poster was based on my Senior Honors Thesis in Psychology, and is from data that I helped collect in Chiapas, Mexico, with my mentor, Dr. Abarbanell. This conference has been my favorite to attend. SACNAS motivated and encouraged me in so many ways. I, for one, was very impressed with the research that all of the students were doing. I had conversations with multiple students from all over the world with very similar backgrounds to mine. Not only did I talk to students, but I met with many university representatives that were interested in my project and asked if I was considering applying to their programs. I was also approached to apply, and told I would have a guaranteed spot, in a research study for National Institute of Health (NIH) next year. When presenting my poster, I was judged twice. Not only did they judge my poster, they gave me a paper with my score and wrote down suggestions. I thought this was very helpful for students to learn from any mistakes.
SACNAS not only had students presenting their projects, but they also had workshops for students such as training for interviews, grant and resume writing. They had multiple keynote speakers with inspiring speeches on their journeys as minority students and all of the challenges they have overcome. They had multiple universities tabling at the conference with prestigious names such as Yale, Princeton, and Brown. It was a great way to learn how to market yourself as a student and see all the options and opportunities out there.
Overall, my experiences at SACNAS were nothing but amazing. I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to present at and enjoy this conference. I made new friendships with other students in similar programs as mine. I got offers of summer internships, and I had the opportunity to talk to universities and explore the endless programs that I can apply to. Most importantly, I no longer feel nervous about applying to graduate programs as I did before. Now, not only do I feel motivated to apply, I feel confident to apply.