In my freshman year of college, I took a fairy tales course in an old building overlooking the Hudson River. Huddled around chipped desks, we deciphered symbolism and debated metaphors in stories by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. It was perhaps my first realization that the characters and the often romantic and magical plot twists characteristic of fairy tales don’t become any less relevant or entertaining once we’ve grown up.
After I wrote an article for findingDulcinea on the lasting appeal of the genre, I got an e-mail from a folklorist asking why I hadn’t contacted someone at the American Folklore Society to get professional insight. It happens sometimes, when spending hours researching the online maze, that we overlook great sources. I promptly added the American Folklore Society to the reference section of my article, encouraging students to get in touch with a member of the organization for research purposes.
I wondered later which other societies might be helpful to students, whether for school research or career advice. Turns out, it’s pretty simple: Professional organizations abound, and many are listed in directories, such as Yahoo’s and Google’s.
Here are a few examples:
Society of Professional Journalists has pro chapters and student chapters, which list names of chapter presidents or advisors, along with an e-mail address and phone number. The site also has a “Resources for Students” section, where research guidelines explain how to get in touch with the organization.
National Association of Environmental Professionals has chapters all over the U.S., from its Mid Atlantic members to its Rio Grande constituency. Contact information for each chapter is provided.
American Astronomical Society is 7,000-strong, and includes physicists, mathematicians, geologists and engineers. Interested students can contact the main organization in Washington, D.C. On the Web site, find a section of educator resources and a section for students, including a free “Careers in Astronomy” brochure. The frequently asked questions are good for students as well.
Sarah Amandolare
Senior Writer
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