Speed Data Event Presents Good Science in the Name of Good Fun and Fellowship

The Speed Data presenters were: Front row (from left): Saamera Awali, Nat Yawson, Emma Flood. Back row (from left): Samantha Musso, Adriana Ponton-Almodovar, Nana Kwame Kwabi Boateng, Derek Bowman, Andrew Roney, Ali Lewis. Not pictured: Kamila Sadko.

Published December 11, 2024

Dr. Charles Williams led a singalong to the Christmas classic, “Away in a Manger” but substituted the words to his zebrafish research with something less than a classic he titled, “Away in a Fish Lab.”

Graduate student Emma Flood had her shot too, using the music of “Jingle Bells” to discuss her research on mesentery fat.

And the other presenters who took part in the recent annual Pharmacology & Toxicology Department’s Speed Data event had their opportunity to explain their very serious science in a very abbreviated and light-hearted way. The only rule? Do not go over two minutes in the explanation.

And while most did not, one presenter did in fact stray over and was ushered off with a blaring air horn and pelted with cotton baseballs, rubber mallets and beach balls.

But it was all in good fun, good fellowship and, of course, good science.

There were awards too.

Most Impactful Paper: Emma Wabel

Best in Show: Samantha Musso

Closest to Two Minutes: Derek Bowman

Alpha Gamma Award: Nana Kwame Kwabi Boateng

Squish the Most Data in at Presentation Slide: Andrew Roney

In the Spirit of Speed Data: Ali Lewis

Warm and Fuzzy Award: Dr. Charles Williams

Serious Science Silliness: Emma Flood