Chemistry major Kathryn Edwards ’24 recently won first place in the research poster competition at the spring meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). “Breaking Chains: Diversity in STEM Excellence” was the theme of the conference held at the University of Mississippi on March 29.
“This experience was truly amazing. I got to make amazing connections and see a beautiful campus. I am truly honored to have had the opportunity to represent Rhodes at such an event,” said Edwards.
NOBCChE is a professional society with a mission to build an eminent cadre of successful and diverse global leaders in STEM and advance their professional endeavors by adding value to their academic, development, leadership, and philanthropic endeavors throughout the life cycle of their careers.
Edwards presented her research project “Acid Rain: The Global Issue Forgotten,” which she is completing in her senior seminar course (Chem 486) taught by Dr. Ramesh Sapkota. Her meta-analysis studied the impacts of acid rain across the globe, highlighting that acid rain affects every continent except Antarctica and has serious implications for health and safety of individuals and the environments we live in.
Edwards also took an interdisciplinary approach to her research—chemistry and policy— and made conclusions to develop strategies to solving the Acid Rain problem with specific policy changes and regulations which are needed to ensure the safety of people and the environment.
“I am delighted to hear about Kathryn achieving remarkable success,” said Sapkota. “Her dedication and hard work in undergraduate classes and research have propelled her, and her hard work has truly been rewarded.”
Graduate, post-baccalaureate, and undergraduate students participated in the poster competition, and Edwards won in the combined undergraduate/post-baccalaureate student division.
“Kathryn’s brilliance was definitely on display as she presented the work she has been completing in her course-based undergraduate research experience. All the other students who competed in her division were actually post-baccalaureate students, and so, winning first place and being the only undergraduate student speaks to her excellence,” said Dr. Shana Stoddard, who is founder of the STEM Cohort Mentoring Program at Rhodes.
“The mentorship that the STEM cohort has allotted me during my time at Rhodes has been priceless. I am constantly being put in the right rooms with the right people, and it has opened so many doors. Dr. Stoddard has shown me that the world is truly mine for the taking,” said Edwards.