What: Soccer scores aren't the only low numbers these days. Predominately white colleges and universities continue to struggle with producing African American, Chicano, Latino and Native American students who pursue careers in science. UC Davis is hosting a national workshop to address this problem, focusing on building mentorship relationships among students and scientists in chemistry.
"We're dealing with one of the hottest issues in education right now, increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in mathematics and physical sciences," said UC Davis chemistry professor and workshop organizer Bill Jackson. He was recently appointed to a National Science Foundation committee studying underrepresentation in science and engineering, and he is the principal investigator for a $1.4 million, three-year program to boost minority success in chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, physics and statistics.
"I'm surprised at how isolated minority students often feel they are, and how little they know about opportunities to do something worthwhile in their fields," said Jackson. "It doesn't take a genius to be a scientist; it takes hard work, dedication and interest."
Workshop participants will tour campus laboratory and research facilities, meet with mentor scientists, listen to speakers and trade stories during meetings. Funded by the National Science Foundation and UC Davis, the workshop is one of several special programs at UC Davis designed to increase the number of underrepresented students in science and engineering.
When: July 8-10
2:30 p.m. Friday to noon Sunday
Where: Primarily in the Chemistry Building, Room 179
UC Davis
(see schedule for details)
Directions and Parking: Take the UC Davis exit off of I-80 and head north toward the campus. Turn right at the stop sign and continue on Old Davis Road. Turn left at the light onto Mrak Hall Drive. To the left of the circle will be a large parking lot, P3. The Chemistry Building is located directly north of the lot. Media may park for free in most spaces if the car is marked or a business card is placed on the left side of the dashboard.