Students see science as a discipline based on truths and facts, where personal experiences and cultural perspectives don’t have a place. Yet we struggle to build diversity in many of our scientific disciplines. Students from under-represented populations feel discouraged pursuing these disciplines: they don’t see people like them studying or practicing in the field, the challenges feel insurmountable, and they may experience rejection. In addition, scientists know that the practice and practitioners of science are subject to the same cultural biases that exist in the rest of the world.

Participants will:
Consider ways of thinking about how teaching strategies, even when content is not about diversity, can promote inclusion, and
Explore particular examples of ways to create inclusive environments.

The three presenters on the New Paltz campus are partners in building inclusive spaces. Presenters will share their intentional and intersectional teaching strategies to build inclusivity in their classrooms and laboratories, followed by discussion.
Catherine Herne (Physics) on intersectional identity and self-disclosure as a lesbian physicist.
Raj Pandya (Astronomy) on using astronomy outreach to teach cultural diversity.
Jen Waldo (Biology) on dealing with issues of race and sexual identity when teaching genetics.