Science research expands horizons for this aspiring space lawyer
Broadcom MASTERS alumni are public advocates for the promotion of science, said 2015 Broadcom MASTERS finalist Evelyn Bodoni.
It’s up to her generation and those younger to pursue scientific research, solutions, and implement change in the world.
Read the interview below to learn more about Evelyn’s experience at Broadcom MASTERS and her future plans, like maybe becoming a space lawyer.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BROADCOM MASTERS EXPERIENCE: Broadcom MASTERS was one of the best weeks of my life. The entire week was like being on a roller coaster with awesome surprises waiting after every turn. The activities were engaging and fun. It was a life-changing experience.
My Broadcom MASTERS experience expanded my horizons and made me understand the transformational power of science in society and the role research has played in human progress.
Scientific advancements make everyday life better and open the door to exciting professions.
Seeing the intelligence and dedication of the other research-oriented students and the uniqueness of their projects inspired me to learn more about fields of science that I didn’t think I would be interested in. Meeting kids from all over the country and understanding their different ways to approach a scientific issue exposed me to new ideas and made me discover new skills.
Most of the projects had the potential to truly change the- world. The friendships I made — some of which will last a lifetime — have also set the stage for future professional networking.
ON THE CHALLENGES DURING THE FINALS WEEK: The challenges were so much fun that we forgot we were actually being judged. I remember being most concerned that we were assigned to work in teams with kids that I didn’t know. It turned out that this was the most enjoyable part of the entire experience because our goal as a team was to do our best and have a great time.
We trusted each other’s unique skills and talents, diverse thinking and ideas.
Trust was the key element that created this positive atmosphere. We trusted each other’s unique skills and talents, diverse thinking and ideas, distinctive problem-solving abilities and expertise, and even our various personality traits. Everyone’s contribution was recognized and valued. Most importantly, creativity is fostered when laughter is shared. And, we did laugh a lot!
WHAT WAS THE BEST PART OF BROADCOM MASTERS: The coolest thing was the fact that all the finalists had asteroids named after themselves. I also loved going behind the scenes at Tesla, Lucas Films, and NASA. I am most grateful to the Broadcom Foundation for this awe-inspiring adventure.
Broadcom MASTERS was one of the best weeks of my life. It expanded my horizons.
THE POWER OF BEING A BROADCOM MASTERS ALUMNA: Now as Broadcom MASTERS alumni, we are public advocates for the promotion of science. Our duty is to provide inspiration to younger students to engage in scientific research.
Our generation will increasingly face resource scarcity and environmental concerns that we’ll have to address. We’re the leading voices capable of taking these pressing scientific issues across international borders in pursuit of global solutions.
WHAT ARE YOUR CURRENT STEM GOALS: I’m still passionate about behavioral sciences. My plan for the 2016-2017 science fair season is not completely clear because I have several ideas I’d like to explore.
I’m sure that I’ll tackle another exciting topic in psychology in my next project. Or perhaps I will continue ones I was already working on in previous years.
WHAT’S NEXT: I will definitely pursue a science-based undergraduate college education. Scientific advancements make everyday life better and open the door to so many exciting professions. Science research also helped me think outside of the box.
A solid science background will qualify me to embrace a challenging career in space law.
A career in law still appeals to me too. There are so many new science-related aspects of law that will emerge in the future.
For example, space law is quite ambiguous today. The Outer Space Treaty states that exploration and usage of outer space must benefit all mankind. Until now, the extraction of a few moon rocks caused no debate; however, newly emerging asteroid mining will turn the raw space material exploitation from hypothesis to reality. As the race for possession of a slice of space and its resources intensifies, the implementation of a legal framework to regulate space mining will prove paramount. A solid science background will qualify me to embrace this challenging career.
ADVICE FOR OTHERS INTERESTED IN STEM: Creating a science fair project is very complex and integrates a variety of skills, including: critical thinking, logic, math, statistics, scientific writing, research, ethics, and graphic arts. Participating in science fairs also enhances presentation and public speaking abilities.
Scientific research requires an extensive time committment. It takes discipline to produce a successful project.
While producing a winning project is not easy, it’s a lot of fun and extremely rewarding. Don’t be afraid to follow your passion. You’ll not only challenge yourself, but you’ll also enjoy your work.
Make no mistake: scientific research requires an extensive time commitment. It takes extreme discipline to produce a successful project. There is no “better” or “easier” field for a project. As long as your research brings something new or an improvement to an existing field, you could achieve high levels in any branch of science.
