Myesa Legendre-Fixx
Where are you from? What university are you attending or have attended?
I am from Mukilteo, Washington. I've lived in the Seattle area for over half of my life. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Washington.
What have you studied in science or are currently studying?
I'm a double major at the University of Washington. I study Ecology and Biological Oceanography. I've worked on a wide variety of research projects: from using DNA sequences and computer programs to investigate communities of tiny open ocean bacteria, to interviewing Bering Sea Crab fishermen (yes, some of the Deadliest Catch guys as well) to investigate how the fishery management system is affecting entry and upward mobility into the crab fishery, to comparing climate sensitivity of high elevation conifers in three different climatic zones on Mt. Rainier by taking tree cores and comparing the chronologies to climate data (my current project).
Do you have any ideas on what a middle school student could do in Science right now?
Keep learning. Read non-fiction books about what you are excited about in science. Search on the internet to learn more about things that you don't quite know about. Participate if your school has a science fair, or a science club competition (like MESA for example).
.
What or who inspired you to get into Science in the first place? What do you like about Science?
I've always been interested in natural science and biology. As a small child, I watched Zoboomafoo. My mom bought me almost all (if not all) the Magic School Bus books. I would read those (and watch the TV show). When I got older, my mom bought my brother and I home school books, in addition to public school. I most enjoyed the sections in the science book that were about living organisms, particularly animals. My mom also bought me a book: 1,000 interesting facts about the world (something like that). I wasn't interested in the sections about combustion engines, or physics, but I loved reading facts about the planets, and about living things.
In 5th grade, my teacher, Mr. Ramsey, was crazy about science. He was always enthusiastically proclaiming how cool science was and how it was his favorite subject. He had us do a bunch of dissections, which the other 5th grade class didn't do.
My favorite subject in science is biology. I am always at awe and wonder at all the capabilities living things have. The more I learn, the more I am amazed and excited.
What advice do you have for a middle school student who is interested in becoming a scientist?
Always ask questions. Read and watch videos. If you have to write a research paper in school and you get to choose the topic, choose to explore in issue in science. Set your sights to go to college. Prepare yourself with good grades and extracurricular experiences to get into the college that you want. Once you get to high school and college, the most important thing is to GET EXPERIENCES. Apply to science summer programs. Talk with your teachers and professors about your interests. They might have a hands-on opportunity for interested students like you, or they may know of one. Ask your high school biology or chemistry teacher if they need a lab assistant to help set up the labs. They would greatly appreciate the help, and you would master a lot of applicable skills.
Free form
Fred hutch summer internship
https://www.fredhutch.org/en/careers/internship-opportunities/high-school-internship.html
GenOM eScience summer internship
http://depts.washington.edu/genomics/hsprog/Big%20Data%20HS%20ALVA.shtml
Here are links for two high school summer internships that I know of. At Fred hutch, you work in a cell biology lab.
The GenOM eScience internship places you in a lab that has you work on your own research project that involves computer coding and analyzing huge sets of data ("Big Data"). You also get to hang out with a group of students who are as nerdy about science as you are and live on campus at the UW. I participated in the incoming freshman ALVA program, the ALVA GenOM project. This gave my college friends, connections with invaluable mentors, funding to continue researching at UW, the experience of working on a project, paper, and poster, lab skills, and an ALVA family. Every summer, I volunteer with the program and meet and mentor the new students. For the past couple years, I've been heavily involved in the application process: reading applications, giving phone interviews, and helping to decide on the final group of students. I REALLY recommend this program if you go to UW. It has positively influenced ALL aspects of my college life. (Note, you can apply for the high school eScience Big Data internship even if you are not sure you are going to UW). (Another note, you get FREE room and board for the summer!!) It's super fun, a lot of work, and an incredible experience for getting involved in science and getting ready for starting at the University. You will learn so much! and you will be talking like a scientist after 9 weeks (no joke)!