On April 20 and 21, the Iowa Academy of Science (IAS) will host its annual meeting and its Iowa Junior Academy of Science Symposium at Buena Vista University in the Estelle Siebens Science Center. The conference will encompass a wide variety of sciences, and some areas will even get their first IAS opportunity at this year’s conference.

The Iowa Academy of Science is a nonprofit organization focused on furthering scientific research, science education, and public understanding of science. The Academy also strives to recognize excellence in these endeavors through its programs. One of which is the annual meeting, which attracts several hundred attendees for two days of science presentations by national, regional, and Iowa speakers.

Dr. Melinda Coogan, professor of biology and the past president of the Iowa Academy of Science, is thrilled that the conference is returning to BVU for the first time since 2006.

“This conference allows our students to have opportunities to show off their research and have the opportunity for students to be exposed to graduate programs focused on research,” Coogan said.

According to Coogan, the annual meeting will feature research from students ranging from high school to graduate level. Institutions from all around Iowa will have the opportunity to share their research during the conference, as well as hear from experts in various fields. As part of her position on the board of IAS, Coogan has worked to expand the research being presented from only natural and physical sciences to a wider scope of sciences, which for the first time this year, includes psychology.

Dr. Wind Goodfriend, professor of psychology, is excited that psychology is being included for the first time. In years past, the IAS conference has conflicted with another conference that psychology students attend.

“IAS didn’t conflict with (the other conference) this year, and it’s in Storm Lake, so this was sort of the stars aligning, and I’m excited about that,” Goodfriend said.

Coogan and Goodfriend agree that the IAS conference provides an important opportunity for science students of all kind to do research and present it, a valuable skill for scientists.

“Learning content by applying content, and communicating that, are three really important components of research, with that communication piece being the presentation,” Coogan said.

“Communication through presentation is the way to share your findings and advance the field, which is very important,” Goodfriend added.

Coogan believes that experiencing the conference, even as a spectator, can be valuable for any person.

“Thinking like a scientist helps you understand complex interconnected issues that affect us all, which is so important,” she said.