Tag: biology

Navigating the Science Fair World

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Insider tips to finding science fairs in your area and how to excel on the judging floor. 

Science fairs are a fantastic medium for sharing independent research and expanding your STEM network. From the incredibly driven students in the competition to the amazing professionals who volunteer to judge the projects, science fairs encompass learning opportunities from every angle. I recently competed in the New York City Science & Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) and was honored to receive awards as a finalist. I learned everything I know about science fairs from my friend and fellow intern at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Ralph! Below I’ll be sharing some tips from Ralph and of course, the tips I’ve acquired competing on the judging floor!

  1. Find your local fair and pay attention to deadlines. Stay organized while conducting your research to develop a comprehensive paper. The Society for Science and the Public has an awesome fair finder resource!
  2.  In addition to competing in your local fair, there are other STEM competitions to apply to! Competitions include Siemens and Intel STS.
  3. At the competition, stay hydrated! Bring snacks and a water bottle as long as food/drink is allowed at the fair. Always check the guidelines before arriving!
  4. Print your poster board at least a week before the fair to ensure it is mistake-free and you are comfortable presenting with it.
  5. Stay confident while presenting! Yes, presenting at a fair can be intimidating, especially if it is your first time! Turn your nervous energy into excitement! Be proud of your work!
  6. Wear comfy shoes! You will most likely be standing at your board for the entire duration of the fair.
  7. Try to relieve stress before the fair by listening to music and/or stretching. My fave playlist is Pop Chillout on Spotify.

 

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NYCSEF Preliminary Round at City College

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NYCSEF Finals Round at American Museum of Natural History

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NYCSEF Awards Ceremony

 

Outfit Details

Competition Look-

Blazer- H&M

Shirt- American Eagle

Skirt- H&M

Awards Ceremony Look-

Dress- H&M

Shoes- Thalia Sodi (Macy’s)

If you have any advice that you would like to share on scistrut.com, connect with me on social media!

XOXO

Autumn

 

L’Oreal For Women in Science Ceremony 2015

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From left to right, Ming Yi, Julie Meyer, Claire Robertson, Sarah Ballard, Sarah Richardson, Katie Brenner, Sabrina Stierwalt, Autumn Greco

“We want to see more women as the face of science.” – Norah O’Donnell, co-host of CBS this morning. 

L’Oreal continues to strive to break the gender barrier facing STEM today. Only 26% of individuals in STEM are women. The L’Oreal fellowship program is in its 12th year and focuses not only on rewarding women conducting innovative, cutting-edge research, but also aims to inspire the next generation of female scientists through outreach opportunities. I am beyond honored to have attended last night’s inspiring ceremony. I was able to reunite with the friendly faces I met last year as well as meet the new fellows and attendees. One of the 2015 fellows, Sarah Ballard, hosts an empowering podcast ( which I could not stop listening to on the train!) for women in STEM! I will be interviewing Sarah for scistrut.com, so stay tuned! For now, check out the 2015 video on the L’Oreal USA website! 

I loved wearing the Rebecca Minkoff Collins dress from the fall 2015 runway; a true representation of scistrut.com! 

Thanks for reading 

Xoxo

Autumn