Five students from Daemen’s Natural Sciences and Mathematics departments presented research at the American Meteorological Society Annual Meeting Student Conference in Houston, Texas on January 25. 
Kade Bidwell, Rachel Dyche, Ashley Matthews, Alexis Nguyen, and Xach Szewczyk completed independent case studies of previous weather events over the past year, which they presented to 800 conference attendees, alongside graduate students and meteorology undergraduate students from universities across the country.
The research and conference were both funded through the NASA Research Initiation Award that was secured by Dr. Hannah Attard, assistant professor of physics, in 2024.
“I am so proud of Kade, Rachel, Ashley, Alexis, and Xach for the extensive research they conducted, the scientific posters they created, and the phenomenal job they did presenting and representing Daemen at the conference,” said Attard.
The students found the conference to be a fulfilling experience. Dyche said, “Presenting at a national conference felt very intense with having to make a poster and submit an abstract, but it was surprisingly very rewarding. I am forever grateful for the experience because none of this would have been made possible without the hard work and support of Dr. Attard.”
Szewczyk noted, “I feel the conference was an amazing opportunity and allowed me to be exposed to material and pathways I never would have thought imaginable. The experience I gained both individually and professionally will help me in my future career. I am beyond grateful to have had this opportunity.”
Bidwell added, “The conference was one of the greatest opportunities that I have experienced while being at Daemen University and Dr. Attard gets all the credit. Attending the conference and presenting research on topics not related to my major allowed me to become more versatile in my education, which I believe will enhance my journey through medical school.”
