By Erica Lefeave
Integrated University Communications
(Aug. 31, 2009) On Aug. 28 and 29, undergraduate, graduate and high school students interested in careers in science, engineering and math attended the inaugural Rocky Mountain Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) conference on the Auraria Campus. Approximately 120 people participated both days.
SACNAS is a national organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicano and Native American scientists. Students at the conference represented diverse academic interests, from pre-health, genetics and biophysics to ecology and computational biology.
Speakers, including national SACNAS board members, discussed the challenges and successes of underrepresented students while emphasizing the importance of underrepresented student participation in the sciences. Zen Camacho, UC Denver vice provost and associate vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion, spoke about his involvement as a founding member of the national SACNAS organization. Workshops exposed students to career options, helped students with interviewing and marketing skills, and taught students how to give poster presentations.
“The poster session was dominated by lively discussions of research projects and experimental protocols,” says Timberley Roane, associate professor and associate chair of integrative biology. “The quality of the work was outstanding—the potential of these students and their enthusiasm for science was very apparent.”
UC Denver’s overall support identified it as the lead contributor at the conference. The conference also marked the creation of the Auraria student SACNAS chapter, which is poised to become the largest chapters in the state. Colorado State University and Otero Junior College in La Junta are the only other institutions in Colorado with their own chapter.
The national SACNAS conference will be held in Dallas, Texas, on October 15-18. UC Denver students and faculty, as well as students from the Auraria SACNAS chapter, will attend. This is the third year that UC Denver will be present.