SWMS Travel Award Recipient: Insights from Natalie Spohn and her experience at the Ocean Sciences Meeting
My name is Natalie Spohn. I just graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in Marine Biology, and I am extremely grateful to have been selected as the SWMS Ocean Sciences Meeting travel grant recipient. At the time of the conference, I was in my final semester as a college student, curious about career paths and graduate school but with more questions than answers. I wanted to attend the conference to explore different niches in the ocean science field before fully committing to a graduate school program. By attending the Ocean Sciences Meeting, I hoped to gain more insight and advice on next steps, job choices, and graduate school applications. I achieved all that and more. Attending provided me with the best possible opportunity to network and explore ongoing research across multiple disciplines, both nationally and globally. Before I continue talking about my experience, I want to discuss my experiences as an SWMS member and how SWMS impacted my time as an undergraduate student.
Natalie at the Ocean Sciences Meeting!
I joined my university’s SWMS chapter as a freshman. At this time, I was more reserved and lacked confidence in my public speaking and science communication skills. In my sophomore year, I was informed that the university’s SWMS chapter needed a president. I volunteered for this position to gain experience and build the communication skills and confidence I lacked. I served as our SWMS chapter president for two years. Over that time, I got out of my comfort zone by leading meetings and events. I even coordinated public outreach events in which I communicated scientific concepts to the public. Through these experiences, I have gained confidence in my public speaking and communication skills, which have strengthened my overall confidence as a scientist. By my last year of college, I knew I was eager to use the skills I had gained from SWMS to communicate my undergraduate research on benthic ecology on a larger scale. When I learned about the Ocean Sciences Meeting, I knew I wanted to attend. I was incredibly grateful to receive the travel grant from SWMS, as it not only reduced the financial burden of attending but also provided me with access to a community of women in the marine sciences field during the meeting. Presenting at a global conference is ambitious for an undergraduate, which made me feel a little nervous about attending, so I was especially grateful for the support from SWMS.
Like I previously stated, my experience was everything I could have hoped for and more. From attending various talks, presentations, and workshops to socializing with people in the marine science field internationally, the Ocean Sciences Meeting broadened my horizons on what research is being done and what career paths are available. I am particularly interested in plankton ecology, biogeochemistry, benthic ecology, and microbiology, so I attended many talks on these topics. I was able to hear from a range of speakers, including graduate students, professors, and industry professionals. Attending these talks helped me understand what I could study in the future and what a graduate program could look like for me. The professional workshops I attended allowed me to talk directly with some of these professionals and to gain advice on applying to graduate school and on job hunting.
I spoke at the SWMS town hall at the conference about my experience as a SWMS chapter lead. I really enjoyed that event, getting to know other SWMS members, and helping spread the word about an organization that has helped immensely with my own professional development.
I presented my own research via a poster session. The session lasted about 2 hours, and I stood in front of my poster the entire time. Anyone walking through the poster hall could come read mine and ask me questions. This was the part of the conference I was most nervous about, but it turned out to be my favorite. People at all career stages and from around the world asked me thought-provoking questions about my research, and I was able to connect with other people studying benthic ecology. Other researchers in similar fields offered me advice on what to do next and which materials and techniques to use. Though I was nervous about presenting, I’m so glad that I did.
Natalie and her poster presentation!
Attending a conference like this was amazing for someone like me, about to graduate from college and unsure of what to do next. It helped me explore different niches in the field, meet people from a variety of institutions, and build up my communication skills. I am very grateful to SWMS for this opportunity, and I feel so lucky to have been involved with them throughout my entire undergraduate experience. My advice to other undergraduate marine science students is to take any opportunity you can, even if it seems nerve-racking. Getting out of your comfort zone is usually where you find the most opportunities for growth, both in yourself and in your career.