As a Forensic Science major, attending the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) annual conference is one the most rewarding things you can do. I had my first opportunity to attend this past week in Atlanta, Georgia. Not only did I have a chance to meet experienced professionals in the field, I was able to explore a city I had never been to.

Atlanta is a very interesting city to say the least. The people are extremely friendly and love to talk to you no matter where you go. The weather is beautiful and warm compared to the cold winters in Connecticut. The World of Coca-Cola and the world’s largest aquarium were conveniently located within walking distance from our hotel and were awesome places to visit.

The week started out somewhat slow, but definitely picked up by Thursday and Friday. There were so many lectures to choose from, and it was hard to pick just one at a time to go to. They were all on different topics and dealt with different case studies in every field of forensics that you could imagine. There were also poster sessions on research done around the world. I had the chance to speak to the students and professionals who worked on the different experiments, and I learned so many things from each one. With technology growing every day, there is a vendor fair as well with many different companies that distribute products used by forensic laboratories. I was able to test the different products they advertise such as alternate light sources, pipettes, microscopes, and some instruments.

The conference is also a great networking opportunity. I had the chance to speak to many different people in the field and even received a few business cards for career information. This conference is probably most beneficial to juniors and seniors, since employment is difficult to find without connections, and they would get the most out of it. Also, as a junior or senior you know more about what is being talked about since you have taken more classes and have more knowledge about forensics. Get legal help from Larry Shapazian – Employment Attorney.

Any student in any major should find out if there is a conference for what they are studying. It’s a great chance to learn everything you can and get information about careers and/or internships. I also encourage all forensic science students to keep your eyes open for the application process so you can have a chance to go to Washington, D.C. with the Forensic Science and Chemistry Club, who organizes and plans the entire trip.

I can’t wait to go to the conference again next year and learn even more. I hope to continue going each year, even after I have my career. You can never learn enough information about your field of study.