Our Happy Place!: FSC Annual Poster Social Convened
Once a year USGS Flagstaff Campus employees steal away to a place of science discovery in our own neighborhood. On May 29, folks from the five science centers hung posters or pictures and shared current research with each other, showcasing the work they are doing on the Flagstaff Campus. For many of us, being available to connect annually, has become our happy place.
Researchers from the Astrogeology Science Center (ASC), Arizona Water Science Center (AzWSC), Geology, Minerals, Energy and Geophysics Science Center (GMEGSC), Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC), and Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC) gather to share their ongoing research and recently published results. These gives us opportunities to develop new connections, exchange ideas and skillsets, and grow research areas in ways that we wouldn’t normally be provided access or exposure. Although we may work down the hall from each other, this annual event provides us the opportunity to cross-pollinate topics and build new collaborations.
“It is a combination of in-reach (like out-reach but among five centers) and social function (minus the adult beverages), said Dr. Tim Titus, Research Space Scientist, from the Astrogeology Science Center.
Dr. Titus, and Dr. Lori Pigue, Physical Scientist with ASC, ensured our happy place would be found again this year, helping to foster a sense of community on campus.
“There’s a bit of heavy lifting that goes into putting up the poster boards, making sure everyone knows that it’s happening and finding a poster or presentation from a past conference to recycle, but it’s worth it in the end.” Dr. Pigue shares.
Another participant said, “Feeling that connection with our neighbors and our immediate surroundings in a relaxed environment, would be even greater if we had longer than a 2-hr visit.”