Brianna Munoz Gonzalez. Courtesy photos.
SANTA MARIA — Two Allan Hancock College students were invited to present their research project to a prestigious body of scientists and scholars in Seattle, Washington.
Hancock students Brianna Munoz Gonzalez and Katherine Goldstein traveled to Seattle Washington, where the duo presented their research on native plant and bee populations to the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) during the organization’s annual meeting in January 2024.
“Being asked to present in front of a body of other researchers was a humbling and empowering experience,” said Goldstein, who received Hancock’s prestigious Marian Scholarship in 2023. “Every single researcher we spoke to was interested in what we were doing, took us seriously and saw the importance and the value of what we were working to accomplish.”
The SICB is one of the largest and most prestigious professional associations of its kind, with an international membership consisting of scientists, researchers and scholars across nearly all disciplines of biology. Gonzalez and Goldstein presented the findings of their research project, which is part of an ongoing multi-college campus study surveying native bee populations and their host plants. Nine students, including Gonzalez and Goldstein, were involved in the project, which started under a National Science Foundation incubator grant.
In addition to presenting their research, both students were also able to meet and speak with a wide array of professional scientists and researchers in their fields of study, offering them the opportunity to make valuable connections and get a first-hand look at potential careers.
“It was really helpful to be able to talk with these amazing researchers from all these different branches of biology and to see all the possibilities that are out there,” said Gonzalez. “I was able to talk to a lot of people who had a lot of great ideas and advice.”
Hancock offers a robust support system for students in its MESA/STEM programs of study, including specialized tutoring and academic counseling, scholarship and research opportunities, and even a dedicated MESA/STEM student center on the college’s Santa Maria campus. The college is also a member of the C6 consortium, an alliance of eight California Community Colleges that work to use a national grant to support STEM students from underrepresented populations.
To learn more about MESA/STEM programs and opportunities at Hancock, visit https://www.hancockcollege.edu/mesa
Katherine Goldstein.
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ESTUDIANTES DE HANCOCK PRESENTARON PROYECTO ANTE ORGANIZACIO?N DE BIOLOGI?A
SANTA MARIA – – Dos estudiantes de Allan Hancock College fueron invitados a Seattle, Washington, para presentar su proyecto ante un distinguido grupo de cienti?ficos y acade?micos.
El enero pasado, Brianna Mun?oz Gonza?lez y Katherine Goldstein, ambas estudiantes de Allan Hancock College, presentaron su estudio sobre las poblaciones de plantas indi?genas y abejas ante la organizacio?n Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) durante la reunio?n anual de la organizacio?n en Seattle.
“Para mi?, presentarme frente a un panel de otros investigadores fue una experiencia humilde y enriquecedora”, expreso? Goldstein, quien tambie?n recibio? la prestigiosa Beca Marian de Hancock en 2023. “Los investigadores mostraron un gran intere?s en nuestros proyectos y comprendieron la importancia de lo que esta?bamos tratando de lograr.”
La SICB es una de las asociaciones profesionales ma?s grandes y reconocidas en su ge?nero, con cienti?ficos, investigadores y acade?micos de todo el mundo y de diversos campos de la biologi?a. Gonza?lez y Goldstein presentaron los resultados de su proyecto de investigacio?n, parte de un estudio continuo en varias universidades que examina las poblaciones de abejas indi?genas y sus plantes hospederas. Nueve estudiantes, incluyendo a Gonza?lez y Goldstein, participaron en el proyecto, que comenzo? con una subvencio?n del National Science Foundation.
Las estudiantes tambie?n se reunieron y conversaron con cienti?ficos e investigadores profesionales en sus campos de estudio, para establecer contactos y obtener ma?s informacio?n sobre carreras profesionales.
“Fue muy u?til poder conversar con estos investigadores y ver todas las posibilidades que existen”, dijo Gonza?lez. “Pude conversar con muchos que teni?an muchas ideas y consejos.”
Hancock ofrece un sistema de apoyo robusto para estudiantes en sus programas de estudio MESA/STEM, que incluye las tutori?as y consejeri?a acade?mica, oportunidades de becas y estudio, y un centro estudiantil MESA/STEM dedicado en el campus de Santa Mari?a. Allan Hancock College es miembro del consorcio C6, una alianza de ocho colegios comunitarios de California que trabajan para utilizar la subvencio?n nacional para apoyar a estudiantes de STEM de poblaciones subrepresentadas.
Para obtener ma?s informacio?n sobre los programas y oportunidades de MESA/STEM en Hancock, visite www.hancockcollege/edu/mesa