Team TDA Goes to Washington

Six months. 500+ hours of study. Seven scientific papers read. Two posters constructed and presented. How can I best quantify the magnitude our journey?

The culmination of our research efforts was realized this past week in the nation's capital, Washington D.C., at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. To say that we were excited for this trip would be a gross understatement.

On Monday, we were able to present our poster on our most recent research advances to the scientific community. This presentation was exciting because TDA is itself an exciting topic; however, what was even more exciting were the engaging conversations that our poster sparked with other scientists. To see another scientist engaged with the ideas presented in our poster certainly made all of the work well worthwhile.

Psst! Check out the our rubber duck TDA mascot in this picture (on the right)!

The AGU meeting provided ample variety in presentations to attend. Topics varied widely, and I found it fascinating to hear what other scientists were working on. Additionally, the AGU Fall Meeting provided some great opportunities to learn about how diversity, political policy, and the general public relate to science and research.

Not only did this trip solidify my passions and interests in chemistry, it also strengthened relationships with my peers and those already working in the field. For these collaborations and for the countless opportunities this research experience has afforded me, I am forever grateful and humbled.

I'm thankful to Deanna, Cade, Elizabeth, and Fry for making research and this trip interesting, educational, and fun.