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The Carolina Genetics organization will serve as a forum in which its members can meet to explore their mutual interest in the rapidly changing field of genetics. We will investigate all facets of genetics, including its social, political, and ethical implications, which are relevant to today’s society. We will also discuss the way in which genetics impacts health care policies and legislation affecting the people of North Carolina. The organization will encourage and facilitate the academic growth of student members through discussions of peer reviewed journal articles and by hosting speakers who specialize in various fields of genetics. Finally, we will work to inform members of specific career opportunities within the field. We will seek out speakers and journal articles that appeal to a wide range of topics within the field including, but not limited to, medical genetics, plant genetics, and the socio-political impact of genetics.

We will hold monthly evening meetings for members throughout the year. These meetings will include presentations from experts within the many fields of genetics and discussion of relevant academic journal articles. Individuals invited to speak at monthly meetings will be faculty within the School of Medicine and other UNC departments, such as Genetics and Cell and Developmental Biology. Where applicable to genetic issues, we also envision inviting speakers from departments such as anthropology and philosophy. We hope to sponsor speakers at least once a semester from outside of the UNC community, so that our members can get exposure to genetic issues at the state and national level.

The main learning objective for all officers and members of Carolina Genetics is to understand, appreciate, and explore the broad implications of genetics within both the scientific and general communities. For organizational purposes, there will be co-presidents who will be equally responsible for organizing monthly meetings. Their duties will include reserving speakers and rooms, organizing journal clubs, recruitment, and being the main liaison between faculty and student members. Any UNC student can be eligible to attend meetings and there will be no membership fees for joining Carolina Genetics. For recruitment we plan to send invitations to medial and graduate students, as well as advanced undergraduates in graduate-level genetics courses. Over time, to maintain and foster membership, we plan to advertise our organization at both graduate and medical school career interest events at the beginning of each fall semester. We also hope that faculty speakers in the Medical School and Department of Biology will encourage students to seek membership in our organization.