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<\/a>\u201cIt was a good overall experience and I feel honoured to be able to be a part of it,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m game to doing it again, now that I know how to approach it, to make it a little easier, a little better.\u201d<\/p>\n
To be able to present a finding at a geoscience conference as a first-year student is an amazing experience, says Flores. He says that it provided a platform to begin refining the scientific process of discovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to tell the story,\u201d says Flores, \u201cbut at the same time you want to stick to being scientific about it. It was a good overall experience, and I feel honoured to be able to be a part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second student from Camosun to present his research was second-year Environmental Technology student Alex Semple.<\/p>\n
Semple\u2019s presentation was on the precarious situation of some of Victoria\u2019s newest waterfront properties. His research involved the instability of cliffside waterfront properties, which are in the process of erosion.<\/p>\n
Although Semple was pleased about the opportunity to present his research, he got the most out of spending time with people working in his chosen career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really enjoyed just getting to see the type of people or the type of atmosphere in geology,\u201d says Semple. \u201cI think that there was a really nice spread of people, and that everyone is very passionate and keen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Semple says any doubts he had about going into geoscience as a career are gone after the conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a cool atmosphere when everyone is clearly an expert at what they do but still have a very fun, engaging attitude,\u201d he says. \u201cIt didn\u2019t feel like a lecture or a seminar where these people are standing in front of you just talking to the room. It felt more like sitting at the bar with a bunch of friends, having a couple of pints and talking about whatever it is they\u2019re up to.\u201d<\/p>\n
The professor who organized this year\u2019s conference and made it possible for Flores and Semple to attend was Camosun Geoscience instructor Tark Hamilton. Victoria doesn\u2019t often host the geoscience conference, Hamilton says, so it was fortuitous that he had two great students who were keen enough to attend.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had two students who did remarkable enough things to present their own self-driven research in geoscience,\u201d says Hamilton. \u201cThey both seemed very happy, and it was a professional job the way that they presented,\u201d says Hamilton. \u201cMost people find public speaking terrifying and they both did well, in spite of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hamilton says he invited both students to present at the convention with the intention of giving them a leg up in starting their careers in science.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a chance to build these skills and, ultimately, we are trying to make better-educated citizens and better communicators. That\u2019s what this NAGT group is about,\u201d says Hamilton. \u201cNone of us may be stunning teachers, or stunning scientists, or doing cutting-edge anything, but we are learning as we go along, and we really care about involving students and making a better-informed public. It\u2019s a good place for a first paper.\u201d<\/p>\n
WEB-EXCLUSIVE BONUS:<\/strong><\/p>\n Read both students’ abstracts here:<\/p>\n