78th Annual Meeting of Virginia Junior Academy of Science
Research Symposium
2019 VJAS Annual Research Symposium Home Page
VJAS Committee Chairman's Welcome Letter
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May 21, 2019
Dear Virginia Junior Academy of Science participants, On behalf of the Virginia Junior Academy of Science Team and Committee, I would like to extend the warmest welcome to each and every one to the 97th Virginia Academy of Science (VAS) and the 78th Virginia Junior Academy of Science (VJAS) joint Annual Meeting. We are delighted to be hosted by Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia this year. First, I would like to congratulate our student finalists. To be accepted into the VJAS program, your research papers have been thoroughly reviewed and was selected by a rigorous panel of evaluators from across the state. This is a great accomplishment and you should be proud of your research and academic success. As we begin our Annual Meeting, I implore each of you to think about how scientific and technological advancements are changing and shaping our world. The scientific community is advancing at a fast pace and evolving to new heights every year – but we should all pause and ponder frequently, how are these discoveries contributing to the overall well-being of our society and are they shaping our world for the better? The public’s trust and respect of the scientific community remains strong – but lately, there are signs of erosion in that confidence. As scientists, we must be vigilant and step up to clarify any misconceptions and communicate better to the public about how these advancements we are making can be integrated into the society for an improved quality of life for everyone. In addition, in today’s global society where news can travel fast, articulation, transparency, and clarity of our communication matter deeply. This year’s theme is, “Serving the World Through Science”. As scientists, we often get caught up in exciting new advancements and discoveries – but let us showcase to the world that a true scientist not only can make great discoveries but also be willing to serve to make our society and the world a better, healthier place to live, through these innovations. I look forward to meeting you and learning about your work at the 2019 VJAS Research Symposium. Once again, welcome and congratulations on your accomplishments, and I hope this year’s meeting is memorable. Sincerely, Se W. Jeong Chairman, VJAS Committee |
