ADELPHI, Md. -- The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, known as DEVCOM, Army Research Laboratory hosted its annual Summer Student Symposium Aug. 6 at the Adelphi Laboratory Center.
This summer, 250 students, ranging from high school to post-doctoral studies, worked alongside senior Department of War scientists on projects ranging from Classical vs. Quantum Antennas at Extremely Low Frequencies to the Impact of AI Assistance on Human Decision Making.
A chance to celebrate their achievements in service of Army science and technological innovation, the symposium grants students the opportunity to share their research with a poster presentation session. This year's event featured presentations from 88 students, stemming from institutions across the country such as the University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, Harvard University, University of Texas at San Antonio and Howard University.
However, the symposium offers students much more than publicity and recognition; it offers community. Acting DEVCOM ARL Research Business Directorate Director Joseph Alexander kickstarted the symposium with an anecdote about how, during a peacekeeping mission in Macedonia, he was tasked with building a bridge to protect civilians from minefield bombs.
Years removed from his civil engineering degree, he reached out to his West Point mentor, who helped him construct the bridge that still stands today. Alexander imparted on students the importance of fostering connections today to “reach back” tomorrow. His sentiment permeated the poster sessions, where researchers conversed with their peers and mentors eagerly connected mentees with their colleagues.
The symposium also honored the Summer Research Development Program's manager, Danell Diggs, with the ARL Director's Coin. She was awarded the storied honor for her exemplary service to ARL's mission and standards in performance, innovation and service.
“There's nothing more fulfilling than collaborating across the entire organization— connecting with mentors and key personnel—to create a seamless experience before our interns step onto the site,” Diggs said. “I am passionately committed to building bridges beyond the laboratory, partnering with external leaders to craft a professional development series that profoundly broadens our researchers' horizons and ignites their growth. This work isn't just a job to me; it's a calling to inspire, empower, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those pioneering the frontiers of knowledge.”
Whether students go on to begin their collegiate STEM studies, further their research projects, or move into the professional sphere, the Summer Student Symposium is the cornerstone for supporting the next generation of science leaders and Army innovators.
To learn more about the exceptional work done by this year’s cohort, see our spotlight articles on Swapnil Saha, Jenna Amrhein, Adam Halford, Shelby Jaye Barnes and Jacob Sears.
For further information on the Summer Research Development Program, please visit https://arl.devcom.army.mil/careers/students/.
DEVCOM ARL is the Army’s sole fundamental research laboratory serving as the nexus of science between the military, academia and industry. Operating under U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command and the U.S. Army Transformation and Training Command, ARL executes globally recognized research to accelerate delivery of war winning, disruptive technologies for tomorrow’s Army.
For information, visit the Army Research Laboratory website.