Saturday, February 17, 2024, 11:45 to 4:45
This retreat aimed to equip, empower and energize participants for their academic and professional paths in STEM through interactive sessions and dynamic networking opportunities to promote a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive STEM community. All students, faculty and staff were welcome to attend.
Mission Statement: The goal of the retreat was to educate, empower, and inspire Lafayette students, faculty, and staff by offering dynamic and interactive programming with workshops, networking opportunities, and alumni panels.
11:45-1:15 Lunch & Keynote Speaker – Marquis Dining Hall
We were thrilled to welcome Joel Bervell as the keynote speaker at lunch! Joel Bervell is a Ghanaian-American medical student, science communicator, and host of ‘The Dose’ Podcast. Known as the ‘Medical Mythbuster’ online, with 850,000+ followers, he addresses health disparities on TikTok and Instagram. Bervell has spoken at major institutions, participated in the White House Healthcare Leaders Roundtable, and earned accolades for his impactful work, including being named a Scientific American ‘Revolutionary.’
Concurrent Sessions in RISC
1:30-2:10 Workshop Session I
2:10-2:20 Break
2:20-3:00 Workshop Session II
3:00-3:10 Break
3:10-3:50 Hot Seat Sessions with Alumni in STEM
Informal conversations with alums from various STEM industry and academic positions. Come learn about their experiences and get your questions answered!
3:50-4:00 Break
4:00-4:45 RAISE a Glass and Poster Session
A hand-drawn poster done in markers, with images of a Lafayette leopard flying a kite, tables and chairs, wine glasses, and science paraphernalia. The text reads: RAISE A GLASS: DIVERSITY is a FACT. INCLUSION is an ACT. WHAT ACT WILL YOU TAKE?
Yes I Can:
Continue with science outreach at my PhD program
Engage with and mentor new women hired at our firm
Keep doing science
Lower the barrier
Continue to foster and build connection with different communities
Listen to others
Constantly expanding my learning
Avoid being biased
It takes all of us
Listening to people’s experience and uplifting the voices of underrepresented students and professionals
Actively looking for biases I may have ignored before and dismantling them
Being open to learning about the experiences of those who are different than me
Step up as allies
Make more seats at the table where decisions are being made!
The logos for RAISE: A Hanson Center Initiative for Change and the Hanson Center for Inclusive STEM Education are included.
Credit: Graphic Recording by Haley McDevitt.