Sonja Astrakhan

I was super excited to learn that UCL has a society dedicated to psychedelics, only disappointed that I only found out in Year 2. I've had a keen interest in the use of drugs considered "recreational" for theraupeutic purposes, as well as the history of psychedelics specifically, and the stigma surrounding drug use, since high school, after reading Polan's How to Change Your Mind. Because I unfortunately am not doing a neuroscience/pharmaceutics/etc degree, I realize I can't directly engage with the literature at a high level and am less likely to meet people who share my interests in general; this is why SAP appeals to me so much. 

I'm often told communicativity and friendliness are my strong suit, which would make me a good candidate for the position of outreach officer. I'd love to share my own passion for the topic of psychedelics with others, and I feel I have quite a diverse circle in and outside UCL who could be interested in attending lectures and other events. Likewise, if the position requires bringing in experts and relevant people, I'd be keen to help with that. 

Overall, I'm super excited about this opportunity and eager to have a leadership role, meet new people, and learn a lot :)