The Kent State chapter of the Scientistas attended the Scientista Symposium Oct. 16 through 18 in New York City, the symposium is an opportunity for members to network with professionals in the STEM field.

The Scientistas are an organization whose main goal is to “provide leadership to women in STEM,” according to the President of the Kent State chapter, Jaynell Nicholson.

“There was a lot of information given about different types of STEM jobs, and very successful women came to talk to us and inform us about their journeys and how they got to where they are,” Scientistas member Lyndsay Tucker said.

Tucker, a junior zoology major, was one of two students from the Kent Scientistas who presented research at the symposium. According to the Scientista Foundation’s website, her research focused on species richness and abundance in the Cuyahoga Valey National Park through roadway surveying.

President Jaynell Nicholson, a junior conservation biology major, also presented research on nutrient concentrations as indicators of wetland condition, evaluating the Ohio rapid assessment method, according to the Scientistas Foundation’s website.

The conference was held at the Microsoft Office in Times Square and hosted around 150 people. The three-year-old chapter from Kent State sent eight undergraduate members and two graduate members to the Symposium.

Nicholson’s favorite part about the conference was being able to speak with the professional panels after they spoke.

“It is good to know that there is someone out there who does what you want to do and they want to talk to you,” said Nicholson.

The Scientistas want women in the STEM fields to know that they have a support system, “It wasn’t that long ago that women in Science faced opposition and challenges,” said the Faculty Advisor Professor Robin Selinger,” Selinger said. “The symposium and organization provide support to women from like minded scientists.”

Gabrielle Woodard is the arts and sciences reporter for The Kent Stater. Contact her at [email protected].