The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and the University of California at Merced invite you to join a virtual town hall that will tell the story of how UC Merced and partnering institutions work to support inclusive excellence in research pathways, including successes and lessons learned as a 21st century university born in the heart of California’s Central Valley. The event will take place Thursday, October 28th, 2021 from 1:00pm-3:00pm EST (10:00am-12:30pm PST).
Registration is available here and NASEM has provided a meeting agenda as well.
Diversity and inclusion in research is of central importance to higher education. Supporting the success and advancement of students from underrepresented backgrounds will diversify the professoriate, and grow and enhance the scientific workforce. The University of California at Merced is the newest campus of the UC system, and since opening in 2005, they have grown rapidly to build capacity in undergraduate and graduate research training across a range of STEM disciplines. UC Merced has developed a culture of breaking down barriers to research and professionalization for students who come from nontraditional backgrounds, preparing them with the education and mentorship needed to advance and succeed in research career pathways. Within the UC system, UC Merced has the second highest percentage of undergrads who go on to complete PhDs, and the most diverse graduate student population. This virtual town hall, co-hosted by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, will tell the story of how UC Merced and partnering institutions work to support inclusive excellence in research pathways, including successes and lessons learned as a 21st century university born in the heart of California’s Central Valley.
This event is one in a series of town halls NASEM is conducting in collaboration with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to (1) promote the findings of the 2019 National Academies report, Minority Serving Institutions: America’s Underutilized Resource for Strengthening the STEM Workforce, (2) hear how HBCUs/MSIs are working to advance STEM workforce preparation, education, and research capacity, and (3) foster new discussions and solutions around these issues.
This event is supported by the Department of Defense HBCU/MI Program and the ECMC Foundation. The audience will have an opportunity to engage through moderated Q&A throughout the meeting. Please contact jveras@nas.edu for event inquiries. To receive future emails on activities related to this NASEM report, please sign up to our listserv here.
You can view the event site as well as the NASEM website for more information.