This past weekend I returned to the science policy space and had the opportunity through the AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Annual Meeting in Phoenix to present some of my ongoing research into extreme heat impacts on energy demand. It also marked the first time since starting my PhD that I traveled alone to a conference. Somehow, the experience was so much better than I could have anticipated!

I do enjoy exploring hotels and on my first night rushed back into my room to change into a set of professional clothing upon stumbling into a large (and full of dinner) AAAS mixer on the hotel second floor. I happened upon a table of toxicology graduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and then we were later joined by two of the few Black women PhDs (both epidemiologists) I’d encountered since arriving to the conference. It was so interesting to leave my CMU EPP bubble and encounter some of the serious lab-based research other students are doing. Otherwise, in discussing my research one of the women, who also happened to be a professor, gave me her business card to connect over extreme heat and connections to hospitalizations, a serious area I’ve underlooked in my work.

But the highlight by far was the final session I attended. I entered a packed “Science Policy Writing Workshop” and even reconnected with a former DC colleague sitting at my table. Towards the end of the session tables were meant to outline a potential policy memo and my table chose to go with my research topic. We outlined a memo addressed to the Public Utility Commissioners for the state of Arizona to better address disparities in energy affordability (considering extreme weather impacts or data centers) through improved housing stock and rate equalization on utility bills. At one point in encouragement someone leaned over to me and said, “You’re the expert, what do you think?” When it came time to present there was only time for one group and almost immediately half the table pointed to me, so I stepped up to the microphone and gave all our recommendations. A severe heatwave and blackout in Phoenix could alone place half of residents at risk of hospitalization, so addressing energy burdens felt incredibly relevant and impactful. Despite my initial nerves at the mic, I felt I did a pretty good job.

Here's me with my badge at the AAAS Annual Meeting!

This conference meant a lot to me. I’m excited to continue working on translating science for a policy audience and ideally add some of that work here. At times I find being a Black woman in STEM spaces to be invalidating, and having so many people throughout the conference express interest and curiosity around my research area was deeply validating. I connected to a few graduate students as part of the larger SNAP (Science Network for Advancing Policy) organization and can’t wait to keep diving and connecting across science policy.