Author: Emmaline Thorpe | Majors: Biology and Psychology | Semester: Spring 2022
The weekend of May 12th, I was lucky enough to attend the International Society for Autism Research Conference (INSAR). I chose to attend virtually, as the conference fell the same week as finals here at the University of Arkansas. I left with a plethora of new knowledge and experiences. I was able to live stream speakers and learn about topics from chronic physical health disorders in adults to brain morphometry in infants. Most excitingly, I had the opportunity to present my own research project through a virtual project page.
To me, the greatest advantage of attending conferences is exposure. Where else can one be introduced to new ideas, people, and topics you never thought you’d be interested in? Some may be hesitant to attend conferences virtually, as it does lack the face-to-face interaction that allows us to network traditionally. However, I find it advantageous to be able to attend keynotes and speeches on my own schedule. I also love the opportunity to re-watch speakers I find interesting.
Through my work with the Parent and Community Intervention Lab at the University of Arkansas, I presented a poster of my research findings at the conference. My work focused on child destructive behaviors as a mediator between parental stress and child sleep quality. I love performing and presenting research, starting from proposing a hypothesis to data collection to putting it all together on a big poster. There is nothing like seeing months of hard work displayed together beautifully in front of you.
Performing research has helped me develop my professional interaction skills. My particular project allowed me to interact with data collection agencies and other departments across the University. I certainly learned that everyone has a part to play in bringing a project to life. It is also a good exercise in accepting criticism, as it takes years to develop the experience of a concise researcher. It is refreshing to know that so many people at the University are here to help and want nothing but the best for the future of my career.
To any student thinking about performing research or traveling to a conference, do it. You will never regret participating in an activity that expands your professional career and your mind as an individual. Dedicating your time and effort to a topic you are passionate about will never feel like work. It may feel intimidating to speak about your project in a room full of professionals with decades more experience than yourself. Remember, hundreds of mentors out there would love to guide students such as ourselves in the field they love so much.
I have just wrapped up my junior year of college and now have several conferences under my belt. I will carry these experiences with me as I apply to medical school. My interactions with physicians at the INSAR conference have only confirmed my desire to spend my professional life in medicine. Given a chance to do it again, I would certainly start research as a younger undergrad and attend many more conferences along the way