A Survey Course for STEM Students to Understand Diversity and Inclusion Through Readings, Discussion and Reflection.

Abstract

Scientific discovery, innovation and success are enhanced when diverse groups participate.Promoting diversity and inclusion requires understanding both obstacles and best practices. One way to achieve success is to ensure that students in STEM fields recognize bias, understand why a diverse workforce is critical, and know how to support diversity and inclusion.This hybrid class is an overview of gender in science in engineering. Weekly lectures and in‐class discussion coupled with online discussion with peers are critical components of student learning. The topics include STEM statistics, best practices, research, implicit bias, a brief history of women in STEM, feminist theory, and the science of sex and gender. An emphasis that opinions and statements must be supported by factual references. Primary literature, videos, guest lecturers, interviews, books and white papers are used as sources. The final student project is a proposal to create change via outreach, education, policy or research.Support or Funding InformationUM DearbornThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.