Students, tell us why you want to attend ISHI 35 in San Antonio, Texas!
The ISHI organizing committee invites students currently pursuing a degree in the field of forensic science with a focus on DNA analysis to apply to become ISHI Student Ambassadors. Chosen applicants will be awarded free registration (including workshops) to the 35th International Symposium on Human Identification in San Antonio, Texas.
Each entry should clearly answer the prompt provided below and follow all contest rules. Please contact the ISHI Team with any questions or for troubleshooting assistance Monday-Friday. For assistance on the weekend, please email Tara Luther (tara.luther@promega.com).
Prompt & Requirements
Written essay- answer the following questions using between 500 to 750 words total.
- Forensic science can be a demanding career. The work may be exacting and tedious without a lot of recognition for a job well done. How did you decide that forensic science was the career for you? What aspirations do you have for your career after graduation and what is your scientific area of focus?
- If you are selected to attend this year’s ISHI, what do you hope to gain from your participation? What impact might participation in ISHI have on your personal and career growth?
- If you are awarded free conference registration, you will be asked to present a scientific poster. Briefly describe what your scientific poster will be about.
Video recording- prepare a video between 30 seconds and 2 minutes long.
- The video should explain why you would like to participate in this year’s conference. It can elaborate on any aspects of the conference that especially appeal to you (i.e., meeting a certain speaker, attending a specific workshop, participation in networking events, etc.). Don’t be afraid to let your personality show through. The committee is looking for candidates who can communicate their excitement for forensic science to fellow students.
The not so fine print- By submitting a written essay and video clip, contestants are agreeing that these items will be reviewed by the committee. Slight editorial changes, mainly for clarity, may be made by the ISHI organizing committee to the written essay. These edits will be provided to the submitter prior to publication.
Contestants chosen by the committee are agreeing to allow the ISHI organizing committee to use their video and essay in any of the following places:
On the ISHI conference webpage, www.ishinews.com
On social media including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter.
The students awarded free registration will be asked to co-coordinate the Young Scientists' Showcase offering 10-minute presentations to fellow students and those newly graduated. Ambassadors will also be asked to provide the ISHI committee with (but not limited to) the following materials to be shared on social media by ISHI show management:
- A head shot or photo of the student.
- A day in the life series to be shared on our Instagram stories.
- Two interview style blog posts before the ISHI symposium to get to know you better and to preview your poster research.
- Photos to be shared on the student’s social media channels of you preparing for the conference.
- A scientific poster presentation at ISHI (abstract due July 7, 2024).
- Social media posts each day of the ISHI conference.
- Onsite interviews at the symposium with the ISHI media team including (but not limited to) sharing of the student’s scientific poster, and a sit-down interview.
- A handful of photos taken at the event.
- An interview style blog post after ISHI about what you took away from the conference.
Eligibility Requirements & Contest Rules
- This contest is open to students currently enrolled in a forensic science (or a similarly named program) at the undergraduate or graduate levels.
- Applicant must have a public Facebook and Instagram page to allow for sharing of content
- All videos and essays must be submitted by the submission deadline of May 5, 2024.
- All submissions must be original and not previously published elsewhere
- By submitting an entry and video clip to the contest, each entrant gives ISHI all rights, including copyright, to the entry and express permission to edit and publish the entry in all media listed above without limitation and without any other notice.
Prizes
Winners are selected by a group of reviewers from the ISHI Committee. Four awards will be given as prizes for the top submissions. Selected students will receive waived registration for ISHI 35 and any additional workshops held at ISHI.
Travel and hotel accommodations are the responsibility of the student.
General Timeline:
February 1, 2024: Contest submission open
May 5, 2024: Submission deadline
May 17, 2024: Winner notification deadline
