Chevron Auditorium
2:40 PM
Presenters: John Matsui, Director and Co-Founder, Biology Scholar Program, Department of Integrative Biology and Division of Undergraduate Education; Adonis Rivie Guardado, PhD Student, Department of Integrative Biology
For 30-years, The Biology Scholars Program has eliminated undergraduate equity gaps in biology at Berkeley. Integral to this success is the program’s science-specific, equity focused Freshman Seminar that uncovers STEM’s ‘Hidden Curriculum’ and counteracts its harm to our low-income and first-generation students in biology majors. We will discuss the course’s (1) ‘origin story,’ (2) conceptual frameworks and content (e.g., ‘Meritocracy’ and ‘Curve Grading’), and (3) intended psycho-social outcomes (e.g., science-personal Identity alignment), within a changing and challenging political climate. Participants will take-away useful conceptual frameworks and specific actions to close STEM equity gaps when they return to their departments.