Embedded Files
Fall 2023:
Me at the Getting Started in the Stock Market Voices Lecture Series talking to Todd Silaika.
I was able to participate in quite a few clubs during the fall semester at HVCC. The most memorable to me though was the investment club because I got to not only learn about investing, but I also got featured in one of HVCC's voices series lectures and got to talk to an expert in the field along with my peers. It was a lot of fun and helped to expand my practical life knowledge.
Another club I was in was the biology club because I am a biological sciences major. The most memorable moments of that semester were creating agar art and visiting Capital Corals Inc of Albany, NY. I got second place in the agar art contest, and it was cool to go on a field trip in college because I didn't even know that was a thing. I also got to learn more about possible jobs as a biologist and the devastating effects of global warming on coral reefs.
The two-agar art works I created for the contest, the illuminati work made 2nd (on the right) and I'm happy with how my Among Us piece (on the left) came out.
A picture from Capitol Coral Inc at Albany. You can see a pufferfish and a sea urchin in the tank with some beautiful coral!
My submission for the 2023 chemistry ornament contest.
I wasn't able to show up to most of the chemistry club meetings because they coincided with the biology club meetings. However, I did manage to show up to about half of most of them which was nice because chemistry helps set the standard for understanding biology in the first place the interactions between molecules in living beings. The club tried to get members to think more wholistically about chemistry in the real world like how wildfires and their volatile chemicals effect wine by penetrating the skins of grapes. I was still able to take away some pretty interesting information from the club. I was also able to show up to the last meeting which was the annual chemistry club chemistry tree ornament contest. The design isn't that intricate because at the time I was focusing on coursework and finals, so unfortunately, I didn't win anything. However, I hear I was the first person to submit DNA as an ornament which made the biology department pretty happy. I was also the unofficial winner of the contest for about a week because nobody submitted anything yet. So, it was worth the effort in my opinion. There is always next year.
I was also in entrepreneurs club a few times but couldn't really make a commitment to it. I was able to hear some pretty cool business ideas though.
Club events posted in the chronicle that I attended:
"With the rain clearing, the members of Biology club started working on the native plant patch at the entrance of the nature trails by McDonough Complex. We are thrilled to have new members join us, who bring new enthusiasm and energy to the club! This is an ongoing project. We will work on this patch till the end of October, putting in fall-appropriate, native plants. Anyone else interested in joining us for this project should contact the Ethan Mash, club president, at e-mash@hvcc.edu. Our Landis Arboretum trip had to be rescheduled. A new date will be shared shortly. We thank everyone who’ve joined us so far. Hope to see you all at our next meeting on Oct. 23 when we’ll be working on a Microbe Art competition. Stay tuned for more!" P.S.- The trip was later changed again.
"The Biology Club at HVCC hosted its Guest Speaker Day on Nov. 6. Biology Club President Ethan Mash shared his research experience at the Neural Stem Cell Institute in Albany. His presentation provided an opportunity for students interested in the field of Biological Sciences to learn about research and internships, specifically those offered locally. He encouraged them to look for options. Overall, the presentation was well received, and many students were able to ask questions and learn about Ethan’s research."
Spring 2024:
Club events posted in the chronicle that I attended:
"Rice paper is an example of a bioplastic, a polymer derived from renewable natural sources, such as algae or seaweed. Edible bioplastics are a growing market for food wrappers. Folks interested in finding out more about rice paper should attend the HVCC Chemistry Club’s meeting on Monday, Feb. 26 at 2 pm in SCI 385. Attendees will make their own rice paper during the meeting."
I was able to attend the chemistry club's rice paper making session, I learned about and made rice paper with flour of unknown age. They had store bought rice paper rolls to use for eating though because they didn't want us to eat the older flour. They had different vegetables and sauce for the edible rolls as well as shrimp! It was quite delicious, though the rolls themselves are certainly an interesting experience. They are very flavorless, so it seems all they really do is add texture to the food and some more calories. There were some classmates I knew there as well so we indulged in the experience. Like make your own gushers if you fill them with sauce.
This semester was very busy, and the ethical debate competition was cancelled due to lack of participation, but the microbe art was just as fun as last semester. I showed up late, so I rushed a bit and likely didn't do as well to make the podium, but it's really cool seeing how well the other students did. The trip to Taconic was also very cool seeing how different jobs are carried out, it really isn't all that different from the stuff I had to do in the first semester in biology lab. It's a shame Ethan Mash is leaving this semester; he was very personable and added a lot to the club.
"The Biology Club hosted two events in March and April 2024 to conclude this semester’s planned activities. The Microbe Art Competition winners were announced and will be receiving a gift card each. First prize winner was Kira Bardt, who used the bacterium Serratia marcesans to create the aquatic, fresh water invertebrate, Hydra. The second place winner was Mina Shamloo, who created the human lungs using Staphylococcus epidermidis, and the third prize winner was Elle Van Der Riet, who used a combination of two bacteria to create the brain-eating amoeba, Naegleria fowleri. Congratulations to all the winners! Please check the photo to check out their creations! The final meeting of the Biology club was on April 15, which was a field trip to Taconic Biosciences. Students were given a tour of the facilities, including their microbiology, molecular biology, flow cytometry and necropsy labs, as well as the mouse breeding/housing facilities. Workflow and a typical workday were discussed. Students also got an opportunity to talk to some of the facility managers and learn about their summer internship opportunities. We would like to thank all the students who participated in these two events. The club advisors would also like to thank Ethan S. Mash, whose interest led to the establishment of this club, and who was the president of the club for the past two semesters. Ethan is graduating this spring, and we wish him all the best!"
I still went to entrepreneur and investment club meetings this semester, but due to my workload I wasn't able to commit to any of the entrepreneur events like start up weekend or the business plan competition. There was still plenty to learn about the business world even if I sat in the back every meeting taking biology notes. There was also free food sometimes like chicken, pizza, and cookies. The club members were very outgoing so it was always an enjoyable experience even if I couldn't participate as much.
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