This past week I had the opportunity to attend the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) annual conference in Chicago, Illinois. I attended the conference last year in Seattle, Washington as a sophomore, and I wanted to be able to attend again if I was chosen, because the experience is something any student would hope for.

Being able to attend a conference such as this one is truly an amazing opportunity for students, especially because it is a great time to network, expand your knowledge, and explore a new city. Just being able to leave campus for a little less than a week was a much needed break, especially because I was able to hop on a plane and fly to a different state. I had never been to Chicago, so it was something I was looking forward to experiencing. Chicago is a beautiful city, similar to New York, except that it is cleaner, less busy, and not as crowded. Of course it was windy, (“windy city”) but I did enjoy the Willis Tower (formally the Sears Tower) and deep dish pizza. I just enjoy being in a big city, especially where I can sightsee at night. I’m not ashamed to say that I go into full tourist mode, pointing at things and taking hundreds of pictures.

I would greatly encourage students to see if their respective majors have national conferences. Being able to attend a conference is an extremely rewarding experience. The AAFS conference was a gigantic conference full of professionals in all fields of forensic science, which could only mean one thing: networking! If there is ever a good time to get your name out there and hand out a few copies, or more, of your resume, that would be the place to do it. It is extremely impressive for the attendees of these conferences to see students there, but it is even more impressive when these students attending are dressed for success, resume in hand, and ready to meet and greet. Graduate programs, internships, job offerings, laboratories, and departments are all represented. It’s really something to take advantage of.

I was able to attend a job fair, poster sessions, a vendor fair, and presentations, all of which allowed me to meet people of different organizations. I know that many of the students were able to make contacts for internships they would like to apply for and many of the seniors were given information about graduate schools and even jobs. At the vendor fair, there were over a hundred vendors, all trying to get your attention for a few minutes to explain their product or program. Not only do you walk away with about a hundred free pens and other free goodies, but you often meet people who are interested in the fact that you are a student. Many often offer their contact information if you are looking for some help in getting into the field. In today’s day and age, everyone needs contacts to gain employment. If you can get them, take them.

Additionally, not only is a conference such as AAFS a good place to meet people in the same field you would like to enter in the future, it also a good place to expand your knowledge in various field of forensic science that you may not have learned about or may have improved since you learned about them in class. Technology changes every day, with new techniques, procedures, and equipment being developed quickly. Especially in a field such as forensic science, it is important to stay on top of all of the new developments. Attending these conferences places you in a front seat to learn about the new research in development or just listen to cases that professionals have had that may have thrown them for a loop in the previous year or two. Many of them are really interesting, especially if you love strange cases like I do. If you, as a student, can learn something at a conference and then be able to bring it back to one of your classes, fellow students, and teachers, then I’d say you gained something valuable.

A goal of mine would be to one day present some of my future research at an AAFS conference, especially since I was inspired by some of the research I was presented with this year. It’s a goal I can try to achieve in the future, especially because there are a lot of students who present some of their research as aspiring forensic scientists.

I look forward to attending the conference next year, next time in Georgia. It is a worthwhile experience and I would encourage all forensic science students to apply to attend.