At the beginning of this October, I had the incredible opportunity thanks to the Florida Museum and the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowment support to attend the American Ornithological Society (AOS) conference. Attending this conference allowed me to see the latest scientific developments, connect with professionals, and expand my knowledge in many ways that will shape my future research in ornithology.
I loved attending all of the amazing presentation sessions and posters that introduced me to new perspectives and techniques. I was thrilled to be making my way through the buildings with bluegrass music playing during the interims, making sure to get to all the talks I could related to tropical ecology, island birds, behavior, hybridizations, banding management strategies, spatial distributions, and conservation strategies. I even had time to indulge in the latest corvid research! Each session provided a window for me into their field.
One of the most significant highlights was my mentor/mentee session with Dr. Carla Dove. I was able to meet with her, and a few other graduate students who all gave invaluable advice to me as I am still an undergrad. Dr. Dove generously shared her experiences, offering guidance on approaching careers, navigating the academic landscape, and carving out a niche in ornithological research. Hearing about her path was nothing less than inspiring.
During this time, I was also fortunate to support my mentor, Orlando Acevado, a PhD student at the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Tropical Ecology and Conservation Lab. His dedication to research has been such an inspiration. Orlando’s clear, engaging presentation style made his talk a standout, and I’m grateful to have been there for it to support him and our lab. Throughout the conference, we went to multiple talks and participated in large discussions and roundtables, and he would make sure I felt comfortable navigating such a large professional event. This reinforced how lucky I am to learn from him and the museum’s collaborative community.
Beyond these mentorship experiences, AOS also provided me with the opportunity to meet with professors from other universities and connect with fellow students, both graduate and undergraduate. Hearing about others’ intricate research paths, aspirations and goals was beyond encouraging. It was amazing to be surrounded by so many people dedicated to working towards a better future built through a collaboration of diverse topics and perspectives.
This trip, funded by the Florida Museum’s scholarship and the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowment, is invaluable. It connected me with researchers and gave me valuable mentorships and insights. I’m forever grateful for the support that made this experience possible and look forward to applying what I’ve gained in my research and future.
Mia Keriazes is an undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida. Mia is advised by Dr. Scott Robinson, Katharine Ordway Professor of Ecosystem Conservation and Eminent Scholar here at the Florida Museum.
The 2024 Fall Student Travel Awards are supported by the FLMNH Department of Natural History, including funds from the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowed Fellowship and the B.J. and Eve Wilder Endowment. If you would like to help support this fund for future student awards, please go to:
Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowed Fellowship
B.J. and Eve Wilder Endowment