Community College
Undergraduate Research Initiative
National Poster Session
September 29, 2014
Washington, D.C.
By Diana Spencer, PhD
Assistant Professor & Biotechnology Coordinator
Science & Mathmatics
Southeast Campus
I am not sure that they noticed. The yellow and pink hues of the
setting sun with the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument
in the distance were striking. The sight was absolutely spectacular,
and I am not sure that the students observed the beauty during
their several hours in the room in the Hart Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. The students were so
intent on sharing their research that they were transfixed
on the molecules, the tools of the lab, the sequence of the
protocols, and sharing with peer students, congressional
community members, and professors from across the
nation interested in learning their results, that they did
not notice the sight. For several hours, they had no
idea that the sun was setting or that there were eight
kinds of cheeses and numerous dips on the refreshment table. They were sharing their science—their
discoveries. They explained with intensity, clarifying the details, explaining the beginnings
of their research, and the potential that
existed in the processes they had learned.
One student described the differences in
refinery water upstream and downstream
on mammalian cells and viability assays
while the other described DNA extractions, vector ligations, and bioinformatics. Their research modes and
topics were as different as their
lives—one student had researched
with her professor for five hours
a week in the summer, and the
other student had experienced
embedded research in a Cell Culture course. Sam is a mother
of two, and she returned to
school after spending 10
years as a stay-at-home
10
mom. I met Sam a year ago, when she was afraid
(terrified really) to make a commitment to our
program. Ashton has already completed a biomedical engineering bachelor’s degree but found
the emphasis too macro-level/mechanical for her
dream of molecular biology research. She is determined to complete our Certificate in Biotechnology before she continues on with employment
in the San Francisco Bay Area. Both students
have found comfort in the studies and struggles
of the rigorous program.
During the day, we visited the Senate and
the House Buildings and our “green” natures
were evident when we delighted in hailing a cab.
We entered each of the buildings with open-jaw
awe at the architecture (not to mention the security!). We had nervously anticipated this trip
for many weeks and had stressed over details
on the posters and details of our dress. We
prepared for the day by reading white
papers and journal articles, and in a short
training session the evening before, we
had shared our ideas with our peers
and privately practiced our words in
our minds. This was one enormous
chance to state our passions for the
science, and it was necessary to
make clear that the federal dollars spent through the grant are
developing critical thinking
investigations and subsequent
On the Cover: TCC student Samantha Rice, U.S.
Congressman Jim Bridenstine, TCC student Ashton
Williams, and TCC Professor Diana Spencer discussed
the importance of undergraduate research.
student transformations. Both students spoke
eloquently to the staffers in three different
congressional offices and with Representative
Bridenstine. Before my eyes, they became
advocates for our program and for our science that has the ability to heal, fuel, feed,
and clean the world through molecular techniques. During these meetings, we discussed
the fact that novel scientific thinking produces
products and processes, and that these innovations create jobs and build the economy. We
also stressed that scientific research has the
ability to globally improve the quality of life.
The 30,000 foot view allows us to see that the
undergrad research process changes lives and
improves our existence.
During our time in D.C., I was also able
to have a private conversation with Richard
Yamada, Ph.D., a professional staff member
from the US House Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology. His specialty is the
Research and X