My AfroTech 2024 trip was an incredible experience that combined professional development, networking, and inspiration! I was able to connect with a diverse group of like-minded students and professionals passionate about technology, innovation, and Black in STEM. Through engaging panel discussions and workshops, I gained valuable insights into emerging trends in AI and the Black industry.

Networking was a highlight - I had the chance to meet industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and recruiters, exploring future job opportunities and gaining career advice through the career expo and off-site networking events. These interactions not only expanded my professional network but also opened doors for potential collaborations and mentorships.

The panels were especially enlightening, featuring experts wo discussed pressing topics in tech, such as ethical AI, startup ecosystems, and technological advancements in Africa and beyond. Through these panels I met celebrities such as Will.I.Am, and Colin Kaepernick, both of whom are heavily invested in the future of AI. I left feeling inspired by the innovative solutions shared and the community's commitment to creating inclusive technology spaces.

Overall, the AfroTech Conference was a dynamic platform for growth and connection, reaffirming my passion for technology and setting the stage for my future career in Computer Science.

Matthew Okechukwu '27

(November 2024)

Matthew Okechukwu, The PASA Board, and other students from Princeton University posing in front of the AfroTech Statue.

During winter break, Levi Blinder ’24, Sara Ansari ’24, Rishi Khanna '24, and I embarked on an expedition to Patagonia to gather data on cryoconite holes in the Viedma Glacier and the Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience to trek through magnificent mountain ranges, immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of Argentinian culture, and contribute to impactful research aimed at advancing our understanding of glacier ablation. This project would not have been possible without the generous funding provided by CST, PLAS, and ACEE.

Anjali Kapoor '24

(January 2024)

Thanks to CST, I was able to attend the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting, one of the largest geosciences conferences in the world! At the conference, I presented my research on machine learning and methane emissions, a summer project that I completed at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. I also attended workshops on statistics, optimization, and greenhouse gasses. I had a really great time, and it was amazing to share my research with such a large community of scientists. I am so grateful to CST for this opportunity!

Viki Mancoridis '24

(December 2023)

 I am so grateful that the Council on Science and Technology made it possible for me to attend the Agrivoltaics Industry Forum Europe 2023 this past November in Strasbourg, France. I had the opportunity to hear from both researchers and innovators within the developing industry of agrivoltaics, and I also enjoyed comparing the political renewable energy landscapes across countries within Europe and beyond it. My eyes were opened to many technological possibilities I had yet to consider, and all that I learned will prove invaluable in my JP this spring. I also am grateful for the chance this conference provided me to meet and connect one-on-one with leaders in the field.

Caroline Coen '25

(November 2023)

In the month of November, I had the opportunity to attend the International Forum of Research Excellence (IFoRE) at the Long Beach Convention Center in California. Since this was an international conference, I could meet and network with individuals all across the world. Beginning with the orientation, we heard from researchers who had innovated breakthrough ideas and prizes. After our orientation, we could interact with peers and graduate researchers and different university representatives as well.

Meeting professors and researchers from all across the world made me realize how widespread and important research and innovation truly is. Hearing about the research of a 91-year-old astronomy professor from Yale made me comprehend how vast and all-encompassing the scientific community can be.

I presented my research at the conference, sharing my interest in microbiology and sustainability. This experience has impacted my work by inspiring me to continue research at Princeton and work more to continue my research on different topics of microbiology.

Madhalasa Iyer ' 27

(November 2023)

At the conference, the research that I conducted utilizing a novel animal tracking machine learning model (SLEAP.io) found that fish tend to swarm in vertically staggered (what we've coined "ladder position") after running CAD analyses on these prediction models. After the presentation of my research by my postdoc advisor, Hungtang Ko, my supervisor and I were able able to answer questions on my research to a scientific reporter/communicator at the conference in regards to the type of work we did, how we had thought of and subsequently adjusted or model, etc. This experience has greatly impacted my course of study as well as the trajectory of my independent research in numerous ways. In terms of developing the design for our robotic fish at the moment, we've been able to find a way to aid in buoyancy.

This has also greatly impacted my course of study by showing the implications of fluid dynamics in biomedical devices. I plan to add fluid dynamics into my senior thesis work that will mos likely be in regards to computational neuroscience & biomedical engineering.

Abigail Girma '26

(November 2023)

During the week of October 16, I attended the Conference of Complex Systems in Salvador, Brazil. I gave a 15-minute oral presentation during the parallel session on October 16th. There were in-person attendees,as well as online participants. I presented the research I performed this summer as part of the Network Inequality group at Complexity Science Hub. My project consisted of investigating the effect of heterophily and homophily on segregation measures using different types of data, including residential patterns and network patterns in cities. Following the presentation, I received three minutes of questions from the audience. Since I plan to publish a paper on this research, the questions I received were extremely helpful for me because I identified areas in my research that I could make more clear for a general audience. A PhD student reached out to me after the talk to set up time to speak and learn more about the specific details of my project. I also attended other  presentations, getting inspiration and ideas from similar projects. During the coffee breaks of the conference, I spoke to PhD students that did similar research to mine and received feedback and direction for future work.

I want to express my gratitude to you for giving me the opportunity to attend the Conference of Complex Systems (CCS) in Brazil this fall. As a student  passionate about research, this was an invaluable opportunity for me to engage with academia by  presenting my work and receiving feedback from experts in the field. I appreciate your support in enabling me to travel to Brazil. It was the first time that CCS was held in the Global South, and as someone who is from South and Central America (my parents are from Guatemala and Argentina), it was even more important for me to attend in person and be part of research that focuses on Latin America. Once again, thank you for the support!

Cristina Maldacena '24

(October 2023)

Hello! My name is Akaneh Wang, and I am a senior in the CEE department. I am working on a thesis about the daimochi tsugi, a type of traditional Japanese timber joint used in Japanese shrines, temples, and houses. This winter, as a part of my project, I traveled to Kyoto and spent almost a month there thanks to the generous financial support from Princeton University's Council on Science and Technology. I spent my time visiting the numerous temples and shrines, flipping through hundreds of construction archives at the Kyoto Institute of Technology, bullet-training my way around the Kansai region, sampling the most delicious local food, and soaking in the beautiful architecture and rich history of Kyoto. I am extremely grateful to the CST for a winter abroad that I will forever treasure as one of the most unforgettable parts of my Princeton experience!

(October 2023)

Last October, I traveled to Seattle, WA, to attend the Biomedical Engineering Society Conference (BMES). There, I presented my internship project from 2 summers ago titled “3-D Bioprinting Coupled with Electroporation for Building Genetically Heterogeneous Stem-Cell Derived Tissues.” This research was performed at the laboratory of Professor Jennifer Lewis at Harvard, with invaluable guidance from my mentor, Aric Lu.

The conference was a captivating immersion in the world of biomedical engineering. I had a wonderful time sharing my work with fellow enthusiasts while also learning about cutting-edge research in the field. The breadth of topics presented was astonishing, ranging from genetic engineering to reproductive health to artificial organs, to name a few. The conference was also a great opportunity for me to meet new people and establish new connections – I even had the privilege of meeting two professors who extended invitations to join their research labs if I choose to pursue graduate studies in the future!

This experience undeniably deepened my passion for interdisciplinary research in biology. I look forward to applying the skills and knowledge I gained from this conference to my future coursework and independent research at Princeton.

Mahya Fazel-Zarandi '25

(October 2023)

Attending the World Dental & Oral Health Congress and presenting a poster was a great opportunity. I was able to reconnect with my mentor that I initially met at the IADR conference earlier this year, learn about new and exciting research topics within the oral, dental, and craniofacial spaces, and was challenged to connect such research and clinical care topics to the social determinants of overall health. Moreover, I was also able to reconnect with a leader who played a large role in setting up this conference and engage in dialogue regarding a panel I am chairing next year at the AADOCR of which she will be a speaker on. This conference was an amazing opportunity, and I am so grateful for your support.

Rachel Kulchar '24

(October 2023)

At the Hammer Time! blacksmithing event, the Council on Science and Technology collaborated with the Princeton University Materials Research Society to provide students, staff, and members of the community a hands-on experience to learn more about metallurgy. Professor Craig Arnold of the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department held a brief lecture discussing the value and physical qualities of steel over a barbecue lunch. Afterwards, members of the New Jersey Blacksmiths Association hosted multiple forging stations, where attendees had the chance to hammer keepsakes of their own.

Lucas Chen '26

(October 2024)

HackPrinceton is an bi-annual hackathon that brings together talented students from universities across the country. This past weekend, HackPrinceton hosted its fall 2023 hackathon in the Friend Center where a vibrant community of hackers had the opportunity to come together to showcase their skills, work on innovative projects, and network with like-minded individuals. From coding and design to entrepreneurship and teamwork, HackPrinceton was able to offer a platform for students to push their boundaries and create meaningful technological solutions to issues in education, healthcare, the community, and the environment.

I'm an administrator with Robotics Club, and wanted to write and give you a huge thank you on behalf of the club for helping us with our open house event! It was a huge success in terms of recruitment for the club and helped us build a great partnership with engineering affinity groups such as NSBE, SWE, and many more. The funding helped us cater food and boba to the event, which greatly increased the turnout to the event, and it was all eaten. It's also helped us with paying for parts in each of our projects. And as always, StudioLab has been such a great home base for us and enabled the success of the open house and our club.
Thanks again!

Tate Hutchins ' 27

(2024)

Thank you very much for funding the telescopes for Princeton Astronomy Club. It has been extremely helpful for our programs, for example many students were able to see the Galilean moons of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn for the first time. We used the laser pointer to aim towards the radiant of the Geminids meteor shower for everyone to easily follow the streaks of shooting stars. We are also planning on starting a telescope certification program where students can learn to operate a telescope and use it on their own. I am attaching a few pictures below from our last event. 

We are grateful to CST for providing us the opportunity to encourage students from all backgrounds to experience the beauty of the cosmos. 

On April 17th, the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club and Princeton Blockchain Society collaborated to host a panel and mixer on Careers in Blockchain, exposing students to different paths and possibilities within the growing cryptocurrency and blockchain economy. The event featured four panelists with a variety of career experiences, Co-Founder of Splinterlands Matt Rosen, former leader of Bankless DAO Frogmonkee, US CEO of Amber Group Cactus Raazi, and Venture Capitalist at OP Crypto David Gan. The evening began with a moderated panel, with guest speakers sharing and discussing their journeys, inspiration and career advice. After the panel, attendees mixed with both the panelists and each other over pizza and sushi. Special thanks to the Council of Science & Technology for making this event possible!