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Outreach

                          Paleontological Society

Student Representative,
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee member,
and creator/ chair of the DEEP Awards
(Diversity Engagement and Enhancement Award in Paleontology)

For 3-4 years of my Ph.D. career, I happily volunteered in multiple positions with the Paleontological Society. I have a particular interest in making our field more welcoming to historically excluded groups.  I am the first female Saudi paleontologist, so I lack mentors and peers who have the same background as myself, but I want to change that for future paleontologists and serve as a role model in my career!

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Most rewarding to me were the things I were able to do as concurrent Student Rep and DEI committee member. I was able to create the DEEP awards, which award students and early career members for their efforts in enhancing diversity and equity in paleontology with honoraria, plaques and memberships to the Society and then later honored them in a DEEP Awards celeberation that had a fantastic turnout, (more than 100 attendees out of an expected 70), which truly showed how much the Society cares about these initiatives. As part of the DEI committee, I also spearheaded an initiative to create a grants program for members of the Society that required funding for DEI-centered projects, and was able to help secure four years of funding for the grant. The grants and awards were not possible without support from  the DEI committee (and special thanks to the chair, Pedro Marenco), the council of the Paleontological Society, and my co-representative Jeanette Pirlo.

Award winners from the first year of the DEEP Awards (photo from PaleoSoc instagram account).

Mentor for Undergraduate Research 
Stanford S.U.R.G.E.:
Stanford's SURGE program aims to support diverse perspectives by bringing bright, talented undergraduates across the nation who identify as part of an underrepresented minority on to campus for a novel summer research experience. In 2022, I had the pleasure of mentoring two undergraduate students, and I hope/plan to mentor more next year! 

A much more formal photo with the interns! 

American Association of Petroleum Geologists  - Cornell Chapter
President 
As president, I invited speakers to talk about their research and the future of energy to students at Cornell University. I also organized field trips and events. 

 

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S.T.A.R. 
- Science Teaching through ARt (Stanford):
This is a really great organization led by graduate students and affiliates at Stanford University with the purpose of leading free workshops to teach people how to communicate their science effectively, from creating infographics to videos on science topics. Learn more here.

Group selfie with the wonderful previous postdoctoral scholar of the Payne lab, Dr. Pedro Monarrez, and the Payne lab's two SURGE interns, Bio-X intern, and 2/3 of our high school SEYI interns at the end of their summer internship programs!

George Mason University:  
Geology Club Vice President, Upcycling Club Treasurer, Alpha Phi Omega member
I have participated in various outreach programs and clubs during my undergraduate career. As a member of the co-ed volunteer organization Alpha Phi Omega, I contributed 100+ hours of volunteering to the campus, community and nation. 

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