BVU Hosts 2018 Iowa Academy of Science Annual Meeting
More than 320 people gathered for the event, including middle and high school students, undergraduates, graduate students, researchers, and professionals from across the state of Iowa.
Buena Vista University hosted the 130th Iowa Academy of Science (IAS) Annual Meeting and the 86th Iowa Junior Academy of Science Symposium on April 20-21.
“I feel particularly honored that BVU was selected to host the 130th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science, the oldest existing science association in Iowa,” said Dr. Melinda Coogan, professor of biology at BVU and past president of IAS.
The event kicked off on the morning of Friday, April 20, when approximately 80 middle and high school students presented science research in the Estelle Siebens Science Center on the BVU campus. Later that afternoon, IAS general sessions and symposiums took place, followed by undergraduate and graduate-level poster presentations and the President’s Banquet.
On Saturday, April 21, oral presentations commenced, followed by a third and final general session featuring Dr. Robert Brodman, associate professor of biology at BVU. Brodman’s presentation discussed his involvement in research on the federally threatened Lake Erie Watersnake that eventually led to the recovery of the population.
A total of 24 BVU science and psychology majors presented at the annual conference. To qualify, students were required to submit 200-word research abstracts within specific science disciplines. The abstracts were then carefully reviewed by IAS section chairs and accepted for presentation.
“At a time when science is becoming more siloed within specific disciplines, the Iowa Academy of Science annual meeting provides a venue for conversations among students, researchers, and community members where people from multiple backgrounds and interests are able to share and discuss scientific findings,” added Coogan.