Two Allan Hancock College students present their research to prominent biological association

SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Two Allan Hancock College students, Brianna Munoz Gonzalez and Katherine Goldstein, presented their research on local bee populations and area plants to a body of professional biological researchers in January of this year.

The research was presented to the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) during the organization's annual meeting in Seattle, Washington.

SICB was originally formed in 1902 as the American Society of Zoologists and today is one the largest and most prestigious groups dedicated to furthering biological research and providing education and public awareness about the latest in the diverse field of biology.

“Being asked to present in front of a body of other researchers was a humbling and empowering experience,” said Goldstein. “Every single researcher we spoke to was interested in what we were doing, took us seriously, and saw the importance and the value of what we were working to accomplish.”  

Goldstein and Gonzalez presented their findings which are part of a broader and ongoing, multi-college campus study that started under a National Science Foundation incubator grant.

The duo were able to meet with professional scientists and researchers at the meeting in addition to presenting their research.

“It was really helpful to be able to talk with these amazing researchers from all these different branches of biology and to see all the possibilities that are out there,” said Gonzalez. “I was able to talk to a lot of people who had a lot of great ideas and advice.” 

For more information about Allan Hancock College's MESA/STEM programs, visit here.