Session: Ecological and Social Crises: Adapting Ecological Teaching, Mentoring, and Outreach in the Time of COVID, Black Lives Matter, and Climate Change
Towards more diverse and inclusive student internships: Overcoming roadblocks and paving a path forward
Thursday, August 5, 2021
ON DEMAND
Link To Share This Presentation: https://cdmcd.co/abyBnv
Silvia Alvarez-Clare, Charles H. Cannon and Christine E. Carrier, Science and Conservation, The Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL
Presenting Author(s)
Silvia Alvarez-Clare
Science and Conservation, The Morton Arboretum Lisle, IL, USA
Research internships are critical for undergraduates to successfully pursue careers in STEM by improving self-efficacy, collaborative skills, and likelihood of graduate study. Yet, many roadblocks exist for underrepresented groups, such as ethnic minorities. Barriers include inequalities in awareness, opportunities, advertisement, and recruitment, particularly at institutions without research programs. Furthermore, inequalities have been accentuated by societal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Integrative Mentorship Program at the Morton Arboretum seeks creative alternatives to bridge this representation gap and engage a more diverse and inclusive community of students, particularly in plant science.
