Fostering Community among Undergraduates in the Life Sciences

Our project aims to build community among undergraduates in the life sciences by hosting events that foster belonging, with particular emphasis on providing support systems for disadvantaged groups of students. We hope to spark an appreciation for the diversity of all students and provide a safe environment for open discussions. We plan to accomplish this goal by facilitating mentorship, scientific literacy, and networking opportunities. In addition to providing students with a support system, these events will also prepare UW undergraduates for success in life science careers.

Aim 1: Building a community to support early-undergraduate students

First, we aim to promote student belonging and wellbeing through club events welcome to all UW students but aimed towards those interested in the biosciences. We will do this first by continuing our undergraduate Mentorship program, which currently has a cohort of thirty students, throughout the 2023-24 school year. This program pairs students in the introductory science series at UW with students who have completed the series. Mentorship extends beyond academics and into the invisible curriculum of navigating college life, research, and professional development.

Along a similar vein, we plan to host a Dawg Daze event in Autumn 2023 to welcome incoming students and correct misconceptions about STEM on campus upon first impressions. We plan to host a trivia-style event with plants from the Life Sciences Building (LSB)  Greenhouse as prizes.

Both of these programs would allow us to connect with students at a critical time: the beginning of their college careers. This community-building will cultivate kindness and reduce the anxiety, stress, and competition that comes from isolation and lack of community. This grant would allow us to host in-person events for students to connect with peers and mentors/mentees.

To evaluate the success of these events, we will record the number of attendees and survey students to determine if the event increased the students’ interest in joining the life science community.

Aim 2: Increase student literacy around science and equity

Second, we hope to improve students’ scientific literacy and equity-mindedness while also increasing students’ sense of community with our monthly Journal Club. These events feature a student presenter leading a discussion about a journal article. Past discussions have centered around creating anti-racist lab spaces, considering mental health challenges in graduate school, and learning how socioeconomic status influences STEM career outcomes. By promoting a greater understanding of equity issues among undergraduate students in STEM, we hope to foster a commitment to equity that lasts beyond the undergraduate experience. Our goal is to create a welcoming space for difficult, but necessary, conversations, which we hope to spread and normalize in higher education. This, in turn, will lead to the establishment of more equitable and just institutions. The funds from this grant would allow us to continue to host these events by covering the costs of food and drink. We will evaluate the success of these events by again requesting feedback from attendees.

Aim 3: Spark interest in STEM careers

Third, we aim to engage leaders and professionals within the field of biology to speak at our Biology Networking Nights. In previous years, we have had panels with faculty discussing equity in biology education, ecology research, and science/healthcare careers. But in line with our goals of equity, we would like to compensate speakers for the considerable time and effort equity-related work requires beyond their normal job description, the burden of which falls disproportionately on people of color.

We plan to have one networking event per quarter, but our Spring 2024 event will function dually as a fundraiser to help the club attain fiscal sustainability. We envision a STEM Night-style event open to the public (e.g., family, friends, and local community members) to
raise money to sustain the club in future years. We plan to host speakers, have a BurkeMobile pop-up museum to engage learners of all ages, and work with the LSB Greenhouse staff to provide new seedlings for people to plant during the event. Not only will this event be a great science outreach opportunity, but it will also give us the momentum to generate money for future years of the club. We will evaluate the success of this event by recording the number of attendees, taking stock of the funds raised, and seeking feedback from attendees.