Maria Hontaru

Hey everyone! My name is Maria and this year I'm running for Dementia Research Society President. As a part of the society this year, I appreciated the focus on dementia and its clinical implications as well as the events where students could hear from professionals in the field. 

My goal for next year as president are:

• Increase the society’s presence on social media to promote our online presence and increase awareness in addition to sharing webinars and resources for members who are considering a career in the field of dementia research.
• Plan events in collaboration with a wider range of professionals and organisations that tackle different aspects of dementia research such as UCL Dementia Research Centre, Dementia Research Institute, Dementias Platform UK, Race Against Dementia and many more.
• Promote volunteering opportunities in the field for members interested in helping the community as well as getting hands-on experience.
• Collaborate with other societies in order to diversify our events and present how dementia is portrayed in medicine, psychology, art, history and how it is currently portrayed in the media. 

As a second-year Psychology student I am deeply interested in the topic of mental health and research in general and this society has brought me to delve deeper into the topic of dementia and everything it entails, which is something I also hope to do for future generations.