This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) wants YOU to attend its annual conference. Hats off SWS. It's one of themost active and vocal professional societies that work to promote diversity and inclusion of students, especially undergraduates in the scientific experience. The SWS Diversity Program was created to increase diversity in the Society and the field of wetland science. The annual meeting offers students valuable career mentoring and exposure to career options. Undergraduate students from underrepresented groups are invited to apply for Undergraduate Mentoring Awards. Recipients will receive full travel benefits and opportunities for career mentoring at the SWS annual meeting June 2-6, 2013, in Duluth, Minnesota.
All eligible college students should seriously consider applying. Are you a biology major? zoology, botany or microbiology major? ecology, environmental education or environmental studies major? or perhaps you are an agriculture major, soils or geology/geography major? Any and all of these fields of study can be applied to the field of wetland science.
I highly recommended students to get involved in the entire scientific process. Going to class and making good grades are only the start. Getting your hands dirty (literally) doing research -- working alongside of a graduate student, post doc or professor - is how you really LEARN science. Science is verb. You gotta DO it! Nothing summarizes the lived experience of science better than attending a professional science conference. There you will hear about all of the great discoveries that are being made, RIGHT now. It's like getting a scoop on all of those things that eventually end up in text books. And you will see and meet those researchers. It is so exciting. Going to meetings is the best. So, do it. Apply for this program.
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Visit the website for more information about the society and the meeting.
It is a competitive process, but recipients join a very special club of scholars. Those who receive this award go on to some pretty great graduate programs. It is so worth it to apply. See list of past Awardees.
I can send you an application, if you email me. Or directly to the source if you have any questions.
Dr. Frank P. Day
Department of Biological Sciences
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529
fday@odu.edu
The deadline is Friday, November 16, 2012. You have one week. But you can do it. Help me spread the word far and wide.
Thank you!