RSVP here: http://www.cew.umich.edu/events/designing-a-lab-intensive-short-course-for-underserved-populations

Presented by: Eli Olson, Hannah Schrader, and Sarah Steiner representing Developing Future Biologists (DFB), CEW+ 2021 Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity & Social Change Award Winner

In the past two years, DFB has received almost 100 applications/year for their short course. Due to logistical and financial constraints, they are limited to only taking 25-35 students/year. The demand for more courses like this is high, and as emphasized in their lightning talk (https://youtu.be/ipOEjJOT4aw), they believe having more specialty courses like this is a great way to engage students from underserved populations. This workshop will go over the logistics of financing, developing, and conducting a course like DFB, with a particular focus on providing hands-on experience in a virtual environment. At the end of this workshop, participants will have a better understanding of the needs of underserved populations, and the necessary tools to begin to design a lab-intensive short course that caters to those needs.

Additionally, an integral part of the Inspire initiative is pairing advocacy, social change, and activism with skills that enhance a sense of well-being, focus, and interconnectedness. A short guided Mindfulness Meditation practice will be incorporated into the program.

Developing Future Biologists (DFB) is an educational outreach organization led by graduate students and postdocs at the University of Michigan. Its mission is to ensure that the next generation of biologists, regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status, can learn the core concepts of developmental biology and are made aware of the vast opportunities that exist to pursue a career in the sciences.