"I had the opportunity to conduct my own research with amazing mentorship and to learn about contemporary findings in my field of study. I was also able to hear from other students in the conference about their findings and perspectives on a broad arrange of fascinating topics. I will never forget the enthusiasm and passion that both students and organizers of the event had. I am sure that research conducted and presented has real-world implications, and that those I was able to talk to will ultimately have a significant influence in their fields and beyond."
Juan Sandoval "The conference directors were very kind and encouraging which enabled a development of a helpful environment to perform my research. Thank you very much."
Riku Kubota "I share my deepest appreciation towards the IYRC faculty, leaders and the community. Thank you to Dr Paul and all of the keynote speakers for sharing their insights into medicine, it aided many of us to approach medicine in a personal manner and for some of us to discover new pathways and new passions in the field. Thank you also to the facilitators and volunteers ranging from high school to graduates, your devotion to cramming as much information as you can in an orderly fashion for us to learn and to offer support any time we need you is an additional plus for the program. The documentations and modules created were interactive, engaging and eye-opening. It was necessary for all of us aspiring healthcare workers to discover the upsides and downsides of the healthcare system and be prepared before entering and committing our services to the population. I was quite inspired by the content provided and will definitely revise a few of them out of my own interest in the future. "
Claire Ma "I would like to show my appreciation and thank both Paul and the IYRC team for organising this superb summer program! I am truly grateful for the number of opportunities this program has provided and have gained so much knowledge and skills that I know will absolutely be useful for the future. It was also wonderful getting to know such awesome like-minded and passionate fellow students. Additionally, the faculty presentations and discussions were superb, and each speaker was unique and extremely inspiring. Once again, thanks Paul and team!"
Isabel Pieterson |
"This program was a blast! I enjoyed learning about the many facets of medicine through the weekly clinical correlates, zoom sessions, and discussion posts. Before this summer, my understanding of medicine was limited. I thought medicine was merely the prevention, identification, and treatment of the plethora of diseases, ailments, etc. that can afflict humans, but through this program, I have learned that that definition of medicine fails to take into account the many nuances that are present in medicine, like ethics, thoughtful conversations between medical professionals and patients, and more. Medicine is so much more than a doctor prescribing pepto bismol to a patient with diarrhea. It is also the patient themselves, the conversation between the patient and the doctor, the doctor’s diagnosis, the medication prescribed to the patient, and so, so much more. Medicine is something that a couple of sentences can’t adequately describe – in fact, I don’t even think a couple of paragraphs would be even enough. To step into the world of medicine is to step into a library. There are rows and rows of books ranging from obscure to incredibly relevant topics. Some books are better written than others and some are more worn out; however, it doesn’t quite matter, as those in the library, out of a natural curiosity, will browse through books, one by one. That is the world of medicine and it was through this program that its doors were opened to me. I would like to conclude by thanking Dr. Lewis and the IYRC team for running this amazing program. Without them, I wouldn’t have realized and seen what the world of medicine truly looks like and so, for opening my eyes, thank you. "
Billy Sun "The IYRC was an incredibly fruitful experience where I had the chance to speak to, learn from, and collaborate with students from all around the world who shared similar interests and passions as myself. In addition, listening to keynote speakers during the conference itself gave me great inspiration to further investigate and conduct research into infectious diseases, social prescribing, or other concepts revolving around the overarching theme of global health."
Che Young Lee "The IYRC was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. From learning how to conduct my own academic research, to providing an opportunity to network with an international community of talented individuals, the conference became a place for youth to grow and become proactive, inspiring assets to society. Being exposed to this group made me a more knowledgeable and open-minded individual, and this was an experience that will continue to shape me for the rest of my high school career and beyond."
Tanisa Goyal |
"It’s was a really good experience. I like working in group with students from abroad with different perspectives and value judgements than mine. The case study was very beneficial to me because it made me come out of my comfort zone and to think differently . That is think in a different way as I used to , having different cultural belief as if I was in a new environment and culture different than my culture. I will recommend this Case study to all High school students and I hope I will participate in the 5th edition."
Tame Moping Yann "I was inspired by not only the world-renowned speakers but by the diverse health issues that students brought up. I never would have thought that I would be learning about issues so complex from students that are very passionate about their topics but at the IYRC, I did."
Chinedum Aguwa "I was astounded by the impactful implications of my fellow IYRC participants' projects and the substantive understanding and passion that my peers demonstrated during their presentations. I love that all of us came from different locations around the world, and hearing everyone's unique perspectives on popular topics like Covid-19, education, or activism as a result of our unique backgrounds. The questions that Paul and other audience members asked really got me thinking more about my project, and I'm sure my peers felt the same. It's really rare for a student research conference to be so well-organized and approach research from so many different angles, not just pure science research but also ethics, social justice, and art. It's such an honor for me to attend this conference and be among such talented peers."
Alice Feng "The IYRC was a fantastic experience. Not only do you get to work with people with similar interests from around the world, you also get insight from decorated professional in the global health and policy field."
Michael Maggio |
"This was my first time attending and presenting at the IYRC. Even with being virtual, the IYRC conference was such an amazing experience! I loved hearing about the innovative research done by my peers who presented at the conference and thoroughly enjoyed presenting! I hope to attend next year as well!"
Akshara Karthik "The IYRC offers a refreshing change of pace and a chance to share your passions with other students that are just as curious and open-minded as you are. If you believe in the power of asking and answering that initial question, the IYRC is the perfect place to develop as a researcher and global contributor."
Hannah Pescaru "IYRC is truly a kaleidoscope of knowledge, learning, and understanding into the world of science and scientific research. The myriad offshoots of knowledge coupled with the enthusiasm and eagerness of passionate minds was a tremendous and thrilling experiences that I thoroughly enjoyed."
Adwaith Hariharan "On the whole, it was amazing to hone our research and writing skills. Creating a case study for the IYRC was the perfect opportunity to practice academic writing and formulating an argument. Not to mention, navigating virtual platforms and time zones taught us about organization and planning. Certainly, it was an event that I recommend to all high schoolers."
Aleicia Zhu "The IYRC was an incredibly enriching experience that enabled me to interact with an international community of researchers and scholars and learn about the constantly evolving research occurring in both the humanities and STEM fields."
Sena Chang "I am happy to see so many individuals around the world learning how to make their communities stronger. I was impressed by the research student's conducted and the data they were able to collect. Some research conclusions I have even incorporated into my own life!"
William Suringa |
"My first experience at the GHLC 2020 (Global Health Leadership Conference), where I participated at a case study competition. As a team, we conducted a deep research on COVID-19, its effects on our society, and model remedy to present a policy brief. The greatest lesson I obtained from that competition and the guest speakers was the importance of communication and collaboration. As the conference transformed into IYRC 2021, the following year, it provided me with new experiences and guided me towards a new passion. For two days, the great number of students shared their research on a wide variety of topics, ranging from physics to medicine to humanities. I was amazed at the quality of their research, as well as their knowledge and excitement. What interested me the most however, was the community project presentation. A student my age shared her journey to founding the International Magazine, in order to drive civic engagement and empower youth voices. Another student even expanded the IYRC program with an opportunity for students to educate others on diseases, raise awareness on health issues, and bridge the gap on disparities. Seeing these numerous cases where a student was able to successfully make a change motivated me to have a greater goal with my rare disease project. With Paul's mentorship and a board of doctor volunteers, I hope to create a awareness project, where a student would select a rare disease and share their research to the public through a short video."
Chinedum Aguwa