Valerie Trinidad

Valerie’s Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Conference Experience

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Background is a conference center, foreground has a smiling person standing next to a banner thanking donors of the conference.
Valerie standing next to the SVP’s welcome reception sign.

Hello! Valerie here, The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) hosts a meeting every year to bring vertebrate paleontologists and others within the field together to share their research, network, showcase their art, and more! This year, SVP’s annual meeting was held at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. 

 

My first time attending this meeting in-person was last year in Toronto, Canada. I had the opportunity to do so thanks to an honorary free registration. There, I was able to see and experience the layout of the conference and attend talk and poster sessions, as well as meet other undergraduate students and professionals within the field. 

In the background is a blue curtain, in the foreground is a screen projecting the title slide for the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology awards banquet.
A picture of the SVP’s Awards Banquet presentation.

This year (2023) I was awarded the Time Scavengers’ Tilly Edinger Travel Grant and the Jackson School of Geoscience Travel Grant, which allowed me to attend once again. It was particularly important this time around, as I presented my first oral presentation at a scientific conference. I shared my undergraduate research, which explores the relationship between paleoclimate and biogeography using histological analysis of Triassic vertebrates, during the Paleoecology & Paleoclimatology session. Although it seemed a bit intimidating at first, I was happy to learn of the positive responses the talk received afterwards.

During the conference, I saw a lot of interesting talks and posters. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with how many there are! It was nice to see other people’s research and engage with them about the topics they are investigating, especially the ones I don’t know much about. 

I was excited to see my mentor and some colleagues from a former internship, which made the experience feel much more familiar. I also grabbed lunch with others I met along the way, and took a bit of time to visit the botanical garden at Krohn Conservatory (which had a dinosaur theme!). 

Overall, I really enjoyed attending SVP’s conference this year. There were a lot more people than last time, but last year was also the transition back from the pandemic. I will say both have been very cold (being from the Caribbean myself), but I went prepared! I look forward to attending future scientific meetings and growing within the paleontological field!

Valerie Trinidad, Geologist

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Preparation laboratory with a sink, benchtop, and various laboratory equipment. Individual sitting at a grinding wheel preparing samples.
Preparing thin sections.

Hi! My name is Valerie Trinidad and I’m a recent Geology graduate from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. I like to go for nature walks and collect minerals and rocks (and take the occasional plant home). Although I have yet to visit most, I also like collecting stamps and cards from National Parks.

My favorite subject has always been science and I am particularly interested in pursuing studies related to vertebrate paleontology. I enjoy educating people about the wonderful field of paleontology and the importance of studies in STEM, especially my Puerto Rican community. I engage in outreach activities through talks and exhibitions in collaboration with different associations that promote science communication to the general public. 

For my undergraduate research I worked with crocodilians from the Oligocene of southern Puerto Rico. In addition, I also conducted an investigation using osteohistological (study of the bone tissue) analysis from Triassic vertebrate assemblages to explore climate variation across Southern Pangea, with the aim to shed light on the early tolerances of the first dinosaurs and animal groups that originated during this period (i.e., mammals and lepidosaurs). My favorite part is looking at the bones under the microscope (which can be very beautiful), and I find it incredible just how much information is preserved inside these fossils from long, long ago.

My advice for those who are interested in pursuing related studies is the following: It’s not easy, but it definitely isn’t impossible. If you are determined to continue this path, you need to find a way to connect with others and engage in related activities and experiences in whichever way you can. Contacting people can be a bit challenging, but it is key to getting started (there are also mentorship programs out there to help you connect with the right people). In particular, if you identify with underrepresented groups, such as me (a Hispanic woman), it is important to stay and carry on despite any hardships you may encounter. Our persistence is what will further push through the barriers for a more diverse and accepting environment within the scientific community.

A crowded room with a long table set up with specimens on it. Individuals behind the table are sharing information with visitors and using the specimens as reference items.
Paleo Outreach
Large format poster of scientific work that is being presented by the individual at a conference. To the right of the poster is the presenter with their name badge smiling.
Undergraduate Research Poster Presentation.