The Zellmer Lab is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all students to explore biology. Each semester we dedicate some of our lab meetings to talk about issues surrounding diversity and inclusivity of biology and other STEM disciplines. What barriers do underrepresented students face in the sciences? What practices help women and minorities overcome these barriers? Why is diversity in STEM so important to begin with? These discussions are crucial for helping to break down barriers to success.
In a recent letter in the journal, Science, Prof. Alexsandra Sherman and I argue why we need a drastic pedagogical shift in the sciences in order to build a more inclusive environment.
“To diversify science, we must systematically incorporate culturally inclusive practices into higher-education science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) classrooms.”