Patiently waiting at the airport for my 6 AM flight to Minneapolis, Minnesota, I was a little sleepy but thrilled to be attending my first conference. Upon arriving at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) conference, I could hear the bustling of people on the main floor as I walked over to obtain my name tag and conference schedule. As I looked around at all the new and unfamiliar faces, I felt a mix of nervous excitement. I couldn’t wait to see, hear, and speak to everyone. I glanced at the conference schedule that I had been given and marked the talks and posters I wanted to attend. It was frustrating when I found two presentations I was eager to see scheduled at the same time, but I did my best to prioritize.
On the first full day of the conference, I spent my morning and afternoon walking from room to room, listening to talks on a wide variety of topics. Once the talk presentations wrapped up, the poster session began. I made my way down the aisles, listening to researchers and asking questions about their work. It was inspiring to see so many different ideas and projects. Then, in the evening, the welcome reception was held at the Science Museum of Minnesota. A short bus ride later, and I was stepping into the museum, where exhibits spanned from technologies of the past to prehistoric skeletons, human biology, space exploration, and so much more. The most intriguing part of the museum was the preparation lab, where I got to see the museum’s current projects. Throughout the reception, I also had the opportunity to network with paleontologists from around the world, including potential future advisors for graduate school. After the reception, I took the bus back to my hotel, excited for the next day’s events.
The next morning, I was back at it, attending talks and poster presentations. But in the evening, the conference hosted a Student Round Table, where students could engage with professionals from different areas of paleontology. I took full advantage of the opportunity, asking for advice and getting my questions answered at the preparation, collections management, field work, and internship tables.
The following night was another memorable experience, with a Benefit Auction and Social. Everyone, including myself, had a great time bidding on items to take home, all while supporting the SVP with our donations.
On the final day, I was again nervous but excited to present my poster. In the morning, I found my spot in the exhibit hall, set up my poster, and waited for the session to begin. I was thrilled to see so many people approach my poster, eager to hear about my work. Their interest and questions gave me the confidence I needed as I spoke about my research. Later that evening, the awards banquet and after party took place. I got to see fellow researchers who had worked hard be recognized for their achievements, and it was heartwarming to see the SVP community come together to celebrate. At the after party, I got a sense of how close-knit this community really is. People were dancing alongside new and old friends, everyone connected by their passion for paleontology.
The night ended, and as the sun began to rise over the Minneapolis horizon, I packed my bags and headed to the airport for my flight back to Gainesville, Florida. My bags were filled with souvenirs, my mind with new knowledge and memories, and my heart with the passion to continue contributing to the world of paleontology.
Shion Newsom is an undergraduate student pursuing a pursuing a B.S. in Geology and a B.A. in Biology at the college of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Shion is advised by Dr. Jonathan Bloch, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology 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