During the February half-term holidays, 22 students and three teachers travelled to Phoenix, Arizona to attend the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). This was an amazing opportunity to step into the wider scientific world beyond textbooks and classrooms and experience it as an active and evolving community of passionate and innovative scientists.
The conference itself was incredibly inspiring, and we all attended a range of talks. There were so many, none of us went to the same combination! Each offered insight into not only the cutting-edge research that has been taking place, but also into the processes, collaboration, and diversity that are so important to scientific research and discovery. We got to see how scientists communicate their findings and implement their research into the real world through policymaking. It was eye-opening to see how science is not just about results, but curiosity, persistence, creativity and constant questioning. There was a strong focus on the interdisciplinary nature of science, and it was fascinating to see how scientists from vastly different disciplines work together to tackle different sides of the same problem and arrive at unlikely but genius solutions. It was particularly striking how close the scientific community is, and how scientists support and encourage one another.
The talks took us from stem cells used to form organoids to the planetary defence system. Highlights included “Neurons Make a Deadly Donation to Cancer Cells”, which made us realise how interconnected biological systems are. Equally thought-provoking was “Reclaiming Science in the Neurodiversity Debate”, where several new fascinating perspectives were proposed, combining both psychiatry, anthropology and biology. The panel talk about “Sizing Up the Asteroid Threat” was also very enlightening within the interdisciplinary fields of planetary science, astronomy, and aerospace engineering, revealing the current state of detection and defence systems being studied and used to protect Earth from asteroid collision. The Exposition talk by the Chinese Academy of Sciences on the “Materials Innovations Powering a Sustainable Future” also revealed the ingenious ways in which scientists have mimicked various substances, including naturally occurring biological materials, and applied these in the industry to decrease the harmful effects on the environment, showing the positive effect working collaboratively within the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and even engineering.
After the conference, we visited the Grand Canyon, which was entirely different but equally awe-inspiring. Seeing the enormous scale and layers of the canyon was spectacular, and its vastness is not possible to capture in words or pictures. Learning how the Colorado River carved the canyon through millennia was fascinating and put things into perspective.
We were also fortunate enough to take a tour of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. This gave us valuable insight into higher education in America, especially at a STEM-focused university. We learned about the wide variety of courses offered there and saw some of the facilities available for students to design and build aircraft and rockets. It was useful to all of us in gaining a clearer idea of potential pathways in science and engineering. We were also lucky to visit the iconic Route 66 and towns like the beautiful Sedona, in the heart of Red Rock Country.
Overall, this trip was immensely educational and enriching. It has broadened our understanding of science as a global tool for change and growth, and the visit to the Grand Canyon reminded us of the natural wonders that science seeks to understand and explain. The AAAS conference and the Grand Canyon comprised an unforgettable excursion. We are grateful to Dr Parsons, Dr Edwards and Mrs Edwards, who made this possible, and really appreciate their enthusiasm and dedication.
Keya and Alina, L6
