1 August, 2001
Courtney A. Porreca
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
Dear National Science Foundation,
I would like to offer my utmost gratitude for your generosity in providing
funding to support my participation in the 2001 Research Training Program
at the National Museum of Natural History. This opportunity has proved to
be an invaluable experience in preparing me for future scientific endeavors.
The intelligence and dedication of other participants, along with the guidance
of the museum staff, have demonstrated that hard work and a vested interest
in the natural sciences yields invaluable information about the world around
us.
Specifically, my research focused on prehistoric archaeological remains from
an island in the Caribbean. With the goal of evaluating whether or not cultural
interaction is visible in material remains, I examined the technology used
to produce ceramics. I incorporated a new method of examining the composition
of the clay mixture used to make the ceramics, which could prove to be very
useful for future research. In the process of carrying out this research,
I learned about the history, prehistory, geology, ecology, and culture of
the Caribbean region.
Being one of the few anthropologists in the program, I not only learned a
great deal about the other natural sciences, but I was able to teach other
participants about anthropology and archaeology. One of the most pleasing
parts of the Research Training Program was relating other participants' work
to my own, proving that, although archaeology deals with cultural remains,
it has its place in all of the natural sciences, just as they fit nicely into
archaeological studies. By supporting a variety of disciplines together each
individual field of study can contribute to the overall body of scientific
knowledge.
The Research Training Program is an invaluable opportunity for anyone pursuing
a career in the natural sciences. Many of the research projects completed
through this program are parts of larger museum research projects that provide
added information crucial to the understanding of natural processes or, in
my case, cultural patterns. Your support of this program not only provides
young scientists with a solid base for their career goals, but it gives them
the confidence they need to carry out future scientific research from which
the
entire world might someday benefit.
Sincerely,
Courtney A. Porreca
Research Training Program, 2001