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Researcher, Adjunct Professor Credits GRC
for Nurturing, Shaping Her Career Interests After graduating from Washington University in 1999 and earning her Ph.D. in radio-analytical chemistry, with a focus in archaeometry (the application of physical sciences to archaeology), from the University of Missouri in 2006, Rachel Popelka-Filcoff began postdoctoral studies as a research chemist in the Analytical Chemistry Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST.) She contributed to a study in Peru that was recently published in the Proceedings of the American Academy of Science and written about in the New York Times. Rachel also works as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland University College, this semester teaching "Global Warming and Climate Change." Rachel began her extensive involvement with GRC in 1982. "Rachel was just five, and I was very interested in finding a program that would challenge her," said her mother Leslie Popelka. "That was the beginning of a long and obviously valuable association for us." Fond Memories
Rachel has fond memories of "all the wonderful things we did" at GRC. "I especially valued how the instructors valued each participant and really seemed to understand the students' strengths and weaknesses and taught to them," she said. "Students were assigned different roles and encouraged to act in those roles. For instance, in the Ancient Academies, we often had sessions of role-playing, as in a Roman Senate or a medieval papal court. These experiences allowed us to try out different capabilities of ourselves and explore our own personalities, as well as work together and build our own 'imaginary' society that took in many personalities and strengths. Of course, we also learned how the Roman Senate worked, or how democracy worked and individual roles with those systems and how they work today. These scenarios were developed over time, so we had the whole course for them (and us) to develop."
"I also enjoyed how we discussed and actually did all aspects of a culture," she said. "We made Egyptian leatherwork, Greek helmets, Roman jewelry, medieval gowns and a complete model of Pompeii. We were all just so immersed in the activities that they became very real, and I don't remember anyone not wanting to participate." Valued Experiences
Rachel valued her GRC experiences so much that she returned to share her knowledge and thus inspire Ancient Academy students during the summer of 2003. "These courses, including Space Academy and a marine science course, really allowed all of us to just unleash our creative and exploring sides in a wonderful environment that not only supported it, but encouraged it, and was different than regular school," she said. "Knowledgeable instructors just kept on feeding us information, and we just could not get enough! I saw this when I went back to teach an Ancient Academy group as a graduate student. I was totally amazed at how much they knew already and how very excited to share it with me."
"I believe that GRC encouraged an open mind and excitement about ideas and others, and I do think that I carry that with me. I also hope that I communicate that to my students, both when I was a teaching assistant in grad school and now that I am an adjunct professor, as well as my co-workers. I also tutor high school students in math and science, and I hope that I convey that to them as well, especially as they are considering college." Career Choice Influenced, Nurtured
Rachel’s GRC experiences influenced her academic choices and career path. "As a child, I loved the Greek myths, and participating in Ancient Academy made it become real for me," she said. "Archaeology and the love of the classics really did not remain just a childhood thing. They continued throughout college and even until today. I studied Greek and Latin in high school and college, participated in a local excavation in St. Louis, participated in three academic archaeological excavations and majored in archaeology and classics in college."
"But I also used the science from Space Academy and the marine science course, as I changed my direction a bit to my graduate work in chemistry. Now, although I work as a Ph.D. analytical chemist, my research still includes many archaeological applications. I also still enjoy reading about other cultures and traveling as much as possible to experience these cultures." Many Benefits Include Love of Learning
In 2005 Rachel Popelka married another GRC alum, David Filcoff. Although they were both on the GRC campus together during the summer of 1986, they didn’t really meet until pursuing their degrees at the University of Missouri. Now David also works at NIST as a computer scientist in the Analytical Chemical Division in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Rachel emphasized how GRC programs benefit students like her and David. "All of the GRC programs offered a great opportunity to kids who just loved learning and exploring," she said. "My fellow classmates were already amazing artists, politicians and scientists, and I bet they still are today. GRC really encouraged the love of learning and exploring, not only the world and cultures around you, but also developing yourself." For more information regarding Gifted Resource Council, please call the GRC office at 314-962-5920 or e-mail us at: info@giftedresourcecouncil.org. |
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