Strategies for Cultivating Inclusion in STEM (SCI-STEM) 2020

Join us via livestream!

We know first-hand that innovation in STEM requires bringing new perspectives to difficult problems. Research groups that create and successfully maintain workplaces where all voices are heard will continue to outperform those that don’t. We hope to equip those in the STEM community with practical skills they can use to cultivate a more inclusive workplace.

It’s more than just a pipeline problem: Why doesn’t the STEM workforce resemble the population at large? Many point to a ‘leaky pipeline’ as the problem. Traditionally, the proposed solution has been to increase the number of students in the STEM pipeline. However, data from the NIH reveal that although women now earn more than half of all biomedical science degrees, they still hold fewer than one in five full professorships. Despite reaching the end of the pipeline, factors beyond supply are preventing their retention. It is clear that more must be done than just increasing the number of underrepresented minority students earning STEM degrees. Through continued sharing of best practices, incremental changes can lead to larger cultural shifts. But cultural change must no longer be the personal project of motivated individuals, institutions need to buy in as well.

Featuring:

James E. West, PhD: Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns Hopkins University

Black Heritage in Technology Past and Present

James E. West is currently Professor at Johns Hopkins University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His pioneering research on charge storage and transport in polymers (the electrical analogy of a permanent magnet) led to the development of electret transducers for sound recording and voice communication. West was inducted into The National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999 for the invention of the electret microphone. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering; a Fellow, and past President, of the Acoustical Society of America, and a Fellow of the IEEE. West is the recipient of the Acoustical Society of America's Silver and Gold Medals in Engineering Acoustics, the National Medal of Technology, and the Benjamin Franklin Medal in Engineering.

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Sharon Rozovsky, PhD: Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Delaware

Increasing Participation of Students with Disabilities in STEM

Students with disabilities are a significantly underrepresented demographic in the STEM disciplines. To help alleviate this inequality, we, at the University of Delaware, have developed the unique summer outreach program “Research Experience for Undergraduates Science and Engineering Leadership Initiative.” This innovative, NSF-funded program encourages undergraduates with physical, psychological, or learning disabilities to take an active role in the scientific endeavors at a research-intensive University. This integrative measure is designed to empower the participants to pursue research-related careers and professions related to STEM disciplines. In our presentation, we will not only discuss the details of our program but aim to give experience-based, practical advice on how to best accommodate students with disabilities in research laboratories and ways to implement similar programs in other institutions. We will discuss the advocacy work of the American Chemical Society Committee on Chemists with Disabilities.

Sharon Rozovsky received her PhD from Columbia University working with Ann McDermott on protein dynamics followed by a postdoc with Jay Groves at UC Berkeley studying membrane biophysics. In her own group at the University of Delaware, she works on redox biology, specifically enzymes that contain the rare amino acid selenocysteine. In addition, she develops strategies to study biological systems using 77Se NMR spectroscopy. She was also a recipient of the prestigious NSF Faculty Early Career Development award. Currently, she co-directs an NSF funded program designed to increase retention of students with disabilities by empowering them to stay in research and professions related to STEM disciplines. She is also a member of the American Chemical Society Committee on Chemists with Disabilities.

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Edwin Lindo, JD: Lecturer at UW Medicine

Bringing Justice To STEM: Doing The Necessary Work

Edwin received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/International Relations from the University of the Pacific in Stockton and his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Washington School of Law. Honors include Hero Award Recipient, San Francisco Human Rights Commission. 2016; Community Hero Award Recipient, San Francisco LitQuake Festival. LitQuake is an organization comprised of local bookstores that choose community members who have made a transformational change in the community. 2016; and Awardee, King County Bar Association. 2011.

Edwin recently opened Estelita’s Library, a book haven/conversation hub housed inside The Wine Station on Beacon Hill. Calling his new venture a “justice focused community bookstore and library,” Edwin has amassed a wide range of books (from his own collection and from various library sales) about matters of social justice, race, class, politics and the history of oppressed peoples. He hopes to partner with community organizations to offer a variety of classes, book talks and spoken word events — a place that sparks minds young and old.

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Lunch and Learn Workshop 12:00 -1:15pm

Thinking about (re)designing your course or program and ways to make it more inclusive? Join us for this special design thinking session as we discuss strategies for creating more equity-minded learning environments.

Maximizing Student Engagement through Inclusion

As students become increasingly diverse, there is a strong push for institutions to provide courses and programs that engage students and best serve each student's successful learning journey. In this interactive session, participants will utilize a simple six-point course design tool for incorporating active learning strategies, inclusive pedagogy, and reflective inquiry in their courses. As a group we will explore how to create an effective teaching presence and make use of learning spaces that students foster equitable classroom participation.

This session is well suited for those : (i) interested in (re)designing courses and programs and/or (ii) new to thinking intentionally about inclusive teaching and assessment. Although this is a STEM-focused symposium, ALL student-facing faculty and staff are welcome regardless of disciplinary identity.

Key Words: Course (Re)design; Inclusive Teaching; Active Learning Strategies; Inclusive Assessment; Reflective Inquiry; Learning Spaces; Student Motivation; Instructional Technology; Experiential Learning; Service Learning; Undergraduate Research; Mentoring; inclusive Excellence

Presenters: Tam'ra-Kay Francis, PhD (she/her): Research Associate, Chemistry Education Research Group (ChEdR), Department of Chemistry, University of Washington; Ken Yasuhara, PhD (he/him): Director & Instructional Consultant, Office for the Advancement of Engineering Teaching & Learning (ET&L), University of Washington;

Tam’ra-Kay (TK) is a STEM educator dedicated to developing strategies for reducing barriers and increasing student attainment of STEM certificates and degrees. She has over 15 years of experience working with academic and research programs designed to provide holistic support for underrepresented students. Her two-word mantra, “beyond category,” is the center of her work and research interests which include constructing culturally responsive professional teaching identities and creating inclusive curriculum that includes other perspectives and voices. Prior to her appointment at UW, she worked in a Teaching Learning Innovation unit where she supported and facilitated institution-wide professional development workshops and programs designed to foster inclusive excellence. Tam’ra-Kay is a certified CIRTL (Center for the Integration for Teaching and Learning) instructor and a member of the Professional Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD).

Ken joined ET&L in late 2015 as an instructional consultant after several years of experience as an engineering education researcher at the Center for Engineering Learning & Teaching (CELT). Having a computer science background, Ken completed his doctoral studies here at UW in Computer Science & Engineering and has been active in the local and national engineering education communities from his graduate student days. His dissertation was education focused and examined the gender gap in undergraduate computer science. Ken is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD). For more information about Ken and the ET&L, please visit https://www.engr.washington.edu/mycoe/oaetl

Co-sponsored by the Washington Research Foundation; Office for the Advancement of Engineering Teaching & Learning (ET&L); Postdoc Diversity Alliance; Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

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Research as a Vehicle for Change

Strategies for Developing Equity Focused Grant Proposals

Panel Discussion & Workshop Led by the UW Postdoc Diversity Alliance & SCI-STEM organizers

Co-sponsored by the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, College of Engineering and Access; Washington Research Foundation; and UW CoMotion

Panelists: https://sites.uw.edu/uwpda/2020/01/14/research-as-a-vehicle-for-change/

Let us know your questions for the panelists by following this link!

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Join us for discussions of data-driven strategies that can help foster more inclusive environments in our classrooms and laboratories.

Who should attend? Anyone interested in improving STEM – faculty, postdocs, grad students and undergraduates.

The University of Washington is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation contact the Disability Services Office at least ten days in advance at: 206.543.6450/V, 206.543.6452/TTY, 206.685.7264 (FAX), or e-mail at dso@u.washington.edu

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Schedule of events:

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Sponsored by: