Hundreds of Grad Student Volunteers Host Conference for Budding Scientists

By Katya Hrichak

annual Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) conference, putting in countless hours of volunteer work to host middle and high school students from across the state for a day of hands-on learning experiences on April 5.

A group of 37 graduate students, two postdocs, and a faculty advisor comprised the organizing committee, while nearly 200 graduate students volunteered to run workshops, 50 served as participants’ buddies, 20 gave tours of their labs, and 10 ran booths running science demonstrations.

Altogether, this group supported a total of 320 seventh to 10th grade students from across New York state, coming from as far away as Queens to participate in this science, technology, engineering, and math- (STEM) focused event.

“Beyond the incredible diversity of science that participants get to experience, I think that what makes EYH impactful is the connections made between grad students and the kids,” said Anna Ringuette, chemistry and chemical biology doctoral candidate and conference chair. “Every year we get feedback about how much kids loved their buddy or their workshop leader and how exciting it is to see a scientist that looks like them. Getting to imagine yourself as a scientist feels really powerful.”

Watching the younger students develop a passion for STEM throughout the day is a highlight for Julianna Koehl, chemistry and chemical biology doctoral candidate and registration chair. For Tyler Ball, chemistry and chemical biology doctoral candidate and workshops chair, seeing these transformations is especially meaningful as she experienced something similar herself.

“I became interested in science as a result of STEM outreach efforts like this when I was in middle school, and I don’t know what my path would be like had I not participated in these events,” she said.

The EYH conference is held in April every year, dating back to when it began in 1988. Students interested in volunteering for next year’s conference can learn about the roles, including conference and committee chairs, workshop leaders, science demonstrators, buddies, and general volunteers on the Getting Involved with EYH page of the Expanding Your Horizons website.

“Representation matters, and when students see people who look like them or share similar backgrounds leading workshops or mentoring them, it can spark the belief that they, too, belong in science,” said Aleesha George, chemistry and chemical biology doctoral candidate and adult panel and keynote committee chair. “These events help build confidence, curiosity, and community at a critical age, and being part of that process—of planting those early seeds of possibility—is both meaningful and necessary.”