The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) engages approximately 3,600 individuals, including 1,900 undergraduate students; 400 graduate students and postdoctoral scientists; and 1,300 faculty, program directors, and administrators. Students attend from colleges and universities across the country to present research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This conference encourages under-represented students to pursue advanced training in STEM.
Marquea King and Myrtle Davis at the SOT-sponsored session
The Society of Toxicology (SOT) participated in its ninth year as a session sponsor and exhibitor at the 2015 ABRCMS, November 11–14, in Seattle, Washington. This meeting is in alignment with the goals of SOT’s Committee on Diversity Initiatives (CDI) and is an important part of its strategy to encourage undergraduate students to purse advanced degrees in science and to increase their awareness about the field of toxicology and its many career opportunities.
Myrtle Davis, DVM, PhD, the SOT-sponsored speaker, presented “A Toxicologist’s Quest to Balance Adverse Effects and Desirable Outcomes during Drug Development.” Her talk was not only well attended, but engaged the participants in the ways toxicologists involved in drug development are trained to investigate, interpret, and communicate the nature of adverse affects from chemical, physical, and biological agents on humans, animals, and the environment. She also gave attendees a deep mechanistic understanding about the toxicities of anticancer therapies and discussed how this understanding can ultimately benefit cancer patients. Dr. Davis remarked, “It was a tremendously rewarding experience for me to share with these promising upcoming scientists and to share with the established scientists that attended!”
Marquea King, PhD, US Environmental Protection Agency, and member of the CDI, hosted the SOT exhibit. Dr. King discussed with attendees opportunities for advanced degrees and careers in toxicology. In particular, she encouraged students to take advantage of SOT undergraduate resources, such as signing up to be an SOT Undergraduate Student Affiliate and applying for the Undergraduate Diversity Program. Dr. King also participated in a career forum to engage students in the exploration of career opportunities in STEM fields. The forum helped students to gain an understanding of why graduate training and other advanced degrees are the gateway to future opportunity.