2022 MLK Day of Service-January 17th

Join us for the 12th MLK Day of ServiceMLK Day of Service is an immersive, community service program that connects GT community members to hands-on service projects and social issue education in the Atlanta area.  Each year, on the observed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we offer the chance to make it a “day on, not a day off” partnering with Atlanta community organizations to connect, serve, and move us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a ‘Beloved Community’.  Participation is open to Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and students!

MLK Day of Service Schedule – Monday, January 17, 2022:
7:30-8:15am – Check-in and Breakfast (Exhibition Hall)
8:15-8:30am – MLK Day of Service Welcome Exhibition Hall)
8:30-9:00am – Service Project Travel (Provided for Off-Campus Service Sites)
9:00am – 12:00pm – Service Project Block!
12:00-12:30pm – Return to Campus


Registration:
Complete the registration process here: https://gatech.campuslabs.com/engage/submitter/form/start/517292
Registration closes Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at noon (12pm).  Submissions received after this date cannot be accommodated.

This year we will offer individual and group sign-up processes.  Groups should identify a team lead who will complete the registration process.  Group leads will be responsible for:

  • receiving communication from the MLK Day of Service planning team
  • sharing information as necessary to the group members
  • compiling and submitting the final group roster
  • ensuring volunteers are present the day of the event

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dear CEE community,
The CEE Committee on Diversity and Inclusion is proud to offer a new7 seminar-based course entitled “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Civil and Environmental Engineering” in Spring 2022. We will host seven speakers who will share their expertise on topics such as LGBTQ+ inclusion in engineering, gender equity in access to energy, environmental justice in the Flint catastrophe, infrastructure accessibility and DEI training in the engineering curriculum. The talks will be remote and open to the whole CEE community. The roundtables between the talks will be reserved to students enrolled in the class. We will be meeting as a cohort every Wednesday 5pm-6pm. A draft syllabus is attached. The scope of the course and a detailed syllabus for the writing assignments will be posted later. Please email me if you have any question.
 
Very much looking forward to seeing you in the DEI in CEE forum!

2022 Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Commemorative Event Series

mlk flyer

 

Join us virtually for the 11th annualMartin Luther King Jr. Lecture featuring Freeman Hrabowski,January 12 at 3 p.m.Hrabowski has served as the President of The University of Maryland, Baltimore County since 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance.

To view the listing of 2022 MLK celebration events, visit here.

Nominations are open for the 2022 Inclusive Leaders Academy

You are cordially invited to apply and/or nominate a colleague for the 

2022 Inclusive Leaders Academy program

The Academy is a professional leadership and legacy development program for Georgia Tech managers and people leaders.

Program Benefits

Research shows that investing in leadership development profoundly impacts the management of organizational culture and significantly improves the individual career success of people leaders. Join the Inclusive Leaders faculty and IDEI team for an immersive experience in growing skills that provide participants with a career advantage and support the Institute’s goals for practicing and modeling inclusive leadership excellence.

Key skills participants learn through reflective practices, such as dialogue, journaling and storytelling, include Self-Awareness, Social Intelligence, and Courage. This year the program will also offer special content on the practices of antiracism and racial justice.

Become a more agile and inclusive leader! Visit here to self-nominate and/or nominate a colleague, for the 2022 Inclusive Leaders Academy, by Monday, November 22, 2021.*

*IDEI will invite approximately 50 managers to the sixth cohort of the Inclusive Leaders Academy on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visit sdie.gatech.edu/inclusiveleadersacademy to learn more about program benefits, curriculum topic areas, and eligibility.

Impact Presents: Sickening – a conversation about racism and health disparities

Join the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact for a conversation with Anne Pollock on her latest book Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States. The event is presented in collaboration with Serve-Learn-Sustain, the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, and the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and moderated by professor Manu Platt with joint appointment at GT and Emory.

Community members are invited to join the conversation in person at the Scheller College of Business in Room 200 or virtually through web conference on Wednesday, November 3 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Please join us for a reception after the talk outside of room 200. First 20 to register for the in-person event will receive a copy of the book.

Virtual https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/live-event/ydxufwea

Anne Pollock is a professor in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s College London. Her research explores feminist, anti-racist, and postcolonial engagements with science, technology, and medicine.

Prior to moving to London in 2018, Pollock spent ten years on the faculty of Georgia Tech, in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication. At Georgia Tech, she also served as the founding coordinator of the Ivan Allen College Graduate Certificate in Science, Technology and Society, and of the interdisciplinary cross-institutional Working Group of Race and Racism in Contemporary Biomedicine. She received her BA in Sociology from Brandeis in 1998 and her PhD in Science, Technology & Society from MIT in 2007.

Pollock’s ongoing research is in three intersecting areas: racism and health, feminist theory and biomedicine, and social studies of pharmaceuticals. She is the author of three books: Medicating Race: Heart Disease and Durable Preoccupations with Difference (Duke 2012), Synthesizing Hope: Matter, Knowledge, and Place in South African Drug Discovery (Chicago 2019), and Sickening: Anti-Black Racism and Health Disparities in the United States (Minnesota 2021). Her research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Wellcome Foundation, and the American Council of Learned Societies. She serves as a member of the lead editorial team of Catalyst: Feminism, Theory, Technoscience, and as an editor of BioSocieties.

Impact is a weekly series of meaningful conversations, free and open to all. The main goal of the series is to engage students, faculty, staff, and the wider community on topics that matter through conversations and presentations by leaders and entrepreneurs from all sectors. For the 2021-2022 school year our focus remains on social and racial justice, inclusive leadership, and diversity and equity. Past talks are accessible on the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact’s YouTube page.

Register here: https://www.scheller.gatech.edu/news-events/events/event.html?event_id=a0b1K00000osvmJQAQ

Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month: Faculty Perspectives on Representation, Mentoring, Leadership in STEM

“I want to make sure that other people like me can see themselves…as scientists.” Frances Rivera-Hernández, Facundo Fernández and Carlos Silva Acuña share early school day stories, why they chose science, and their perspectives on representation

October 4, 2021 | Atlanta, GA

 

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the contributions and influence of Hispanic and Latinx individuals in all aspects of American life – history, culture, and achievements. 

The number of Latinx students enrolled in higher education in the U.S. was 3.27 million in 2017 — nearly twice the 1.4 million attending college in 2010. 

While those of Spanish (Hispanic) and Latin American (Latinx) origin and descent, along with other underrepresented minorities reported increases in the number of academic positions held since 1999, today’s figures still represent less than 10 percent of all positions held by underrepresented minorities — and that number remains considerably lower than the total share of the U.S. population, according to the National Science Foundation.

This month, we’re asking Hispanic and Latinx faculty in the College of Sciences to share some of their early school day stories, the reasons they chose to study science, and their thoughts on the importance of representation in STEM classes and leadership in higher education.

Where did you grow up, and what was STEM education like for you?

Frances Rivera-Hernández, assistant professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences:

I grew up in Aguas Buenas, a small mountain town in Puerto Rico. STEM education was limited for me growing up, as my town doesn’t have a university or any science museums. Most of my STEM education came from my science/math teachers — and TV! I watched a lot of science documentaries. I also had very limited exposure to the diversity of science disciplines. It wasn’t until I was able to participate in an Upward Bound Math/Science summer program (part of the federally funded TRIO program) as a rising senior in high school that I met scientists for the first time, and in a college setting. That program changed my life, as it set the course for my future career in science.

Facundo Fernández, Vasser Woolley Foundation Chair in Bioanalytical Chemistry, professor and associate chair for Research, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry:

I grew up in Argentina, and back in the 1970’s, when I was in elementary school, there was little STEM education. We were under a military dictatorship, and the situation overall was very harsh for science and scientists, as many were “disappeared” and never heard of again. I was lucky to have a father who is a physicist, who instilled in me a love for science fiction and anything related to science. I still remember him explaining to me light scattering when I asked why the sky was blue.

Carlos Silva Acuña, professor, School of Physics:

I had a somewhat international upbringing, born in Mexico City where I went to school through second grade in elementary, and then moved to Caracas, Venezuela, where I lived through sixth grade, and then back to Mexico City for the rest of secondary school and high school. Because of this, I studied in international schools both in Venezuela and in Mexico. STEM resources were very good, and that definitely influenced my interest in science. Particularly, my fascination with fundamental science was developed during my high school years, and I always aimed to be a pure scientist.

Did you have any Hispanic mentors or teachers who encouraged you in the sciences?

Rivera-Hernández:

Yes! I had great science and math teachers who always encouraged my interests in science. In particular, my high school physics teacher, Cheo Merced, who taught me how to see the beauty of physics in the world around me. My parents were also very supportive, even though they are not scientists. They encouraged my space obsession, which I’ve had since I was a kid.

Fernández:

My mentors and teachers back in Argentina were incredible, despite the limited resources. Their love for science and education is unparalleled, as they face constant challenges to do what they love. My mentors in the US were not Hispanic, but they still spent an incredible amount of time and resources to help me grow in a fertile environment.

Silva Acuña:

In university and in graduate school I was not exposed to Hispanic mentors, although I was inspired by Mario Molina, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry when I was a graduate student. I was inspired though by my Ph.D. supervisor, Paul Barbara, who was an advocate of inclusion in STEM.

What are your thoughts about getting more Hispanic and Latinx students to think about careers in STEM while they’re in grades K-12? 

Rivera-Hernández:

The lack of scientist role models that I had growing up is why I decided to be a professor, and why I do a lot of outreach at the K-12 levels. I want to make sure that other people like me can see themselves in the planetary science/geoscience field, and as scientists.

Fernández:

We need to intensify science outreach in schools at a very early stage and explain to kids that being a scientist is a wonderful career that is reachable.

Silva Acuña:

I am excited for my role as Associate Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Georgia Tech’s new National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center, the Center for Integration of Modern Optoelectronic Materials on Demand. I will be particularly interested in recruiting Hispanic students, and am active in collaboration with Mexican institutions (CINVESTAV and UNAM) for that purpose.

What, in your opinion, could help boost the number of Hispanic and Latinx researchers and faculty in higher education?

Fernández:

I think the issues are mostly socioeconomic. Many (but not all) Hispanic students face challenges that other students don’t, so they have to make a living and support themselves faster. I, for example, had to work through graduate school to pay bills, which made it quite difficult.

Silva Acuña:

More networking with Hispanic communities. Hispanic faculty like myself need to be proactive in reaching out to those communities to expose STEM careers to students and to the broader community. I recruit many Hispanic students to my group, and I encourage my peers to seek opportunities to do so.

Any Georgia Tech-related programs encouraging Hispanic and Latinx representation among students and faculty that you want to mention?

Fernández:

The LOGRAS (Latino Organization for Graduate Students) group at Georgia Tech is one that is close to my heart.

Silva Acuña:

On Sept. 7th, there was a very large Chemistry Twitter Poster Conference sponsored by LatinXChem. I am an organizer for their physical chemistry division. There are approximately 1,300 poster registrations from all over the world.

(Editor’s Note: LatinXChem is a virtual forum through which the community of Latin American chemists, located anywhere in the world, can share and discuss their research results and advances. Their Twitter account is @LatinXChem.)

 

Related Reading

The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Georgia Tech is now an official member of the American Chemical Society’s Bridge Program, which aims to boost the number of underrepresented minority M.S. and Ph.D. students in the discipline. Learn more about that program here.

Get involved with the College of Sciences Racial Equity TaskforceFaculty Diversity CouncilGraduate Student Diversity Council, and campus organizations for math and science studentsjoin the Georgia Tech 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month celebration; and read more community stories on heritage and representation hereherehereherehere, and here.

Office of Hispanic Initiatives Celebrates 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month
Georgia Tech’s Office of Hispanic Initiatives will sponsor and co-sponsor a host of virtual and in-person events open to faculty, staff, and students in celebration of 2021 Hispanic Heritage Month. Learn more about get involved.

LGBTQIA Resource Center Sessions

Each year the LGBTQIA Resource Center provides a variety of sessions for faculty, staff and graduate students at Georgia Tech. The LGBTQIA Resource Center would like to invite you to our Fall 2021 opportunities for engagement and education. Programs include Level Up, Safe Space, Trans 101, and our Reading Rainbows series. Information, registration, and event logistics about each program is below.

  • Level Up: https://lgbtqia.gatech.edu/level-advanced-allyship-course 
    • Bi-weekly sessions on Thursdays from 9:00am-10:30am continuing through Thursday, November 18th. This interactive course is designed to build on the knowledge and skills developed in Safe Space by digging deeper into topics and concepts related to LGBTQIA histories, identities, and communities. Sessions for Level Up 1 include: Historical Foundations (history of LGBTQIA activism and progress), Trans 201, Queer People of Color and Racial Justice in Queer Communities, Intersectionality and Allyship 1. We will provide a make-up session on Monday, November 22nd for any missed sessions.  
  • Safe Space: https://lgbtqia.gatech.edu/safe-space 
    • Training sessions are open to all employees, graduate students, postdocs, and GT affiliates who have a sincere interest in learning more about how to practice allyship to the LGBTQIA community. 
      • Wednesday Oct 20 AND Friday Oct 22 from 1-3pm (virtual) 
      • Tuesday, Nov 9th from 12:30-4:30pm 
  • Trans 101: https://lgbtqia.gatech.edu/trans-101 
    • Trans 101 is the LGBTQIA Resource Center’s introductory education program designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to support transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender questioning individuals at Georgia Tech. 
      • Wednesday, Oct 13 from 9:30am-12pm (virtual) 
      • Tuesday, Nov 16th from 2:00-4:30pm (in person) 
  • Reading Rainbows: https://lgbtqia.gatech.edu/reading-rainbows 
    • Reading Rainbows, a diversity and inclusion workshop series, gives students, faculty, and staff a space to engage with content at the intersection of LGBTQIA identity or experience 
      • Friday, October 29th from 12-1:00pm (virtual): Diving into the LGBTQ Game Archive 
      • Friday, December 3rd from 12-1:00pm (virtual): AIDS and the 80s Through Film 
  •  

Attached you will also find our ‘how to’ guide for creating an inclusive classroom which is a complimentary guide to Safe Space.  This resource provides strategies for creating LGBTQIA-inclusive classrooms that we how you will use every semester you teach or engage with students. 

Please let me know if you have any questions about any of the above opportunities or resources. We look forward to engaging with you.

In Community,
Tegra Myanna

Tegra Myanna, M.A. (they/them)
Director, LGBTQIA Resource Center 

Division of Student Engagement & Well-Being

Institute Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Georgia Institute of Technology

404 385-2679 | tegra.myanna@studentlife.gatech.edu | gatech.edu

Afro-Latinx Experience Panel

Afro Latinx Experience Panel flyer

Afro-Latinx members of our community will share their personal experiences, issues, and actions through compelling and inspiring conversations based on themes important to our community at the Afro-Latinx Experience Panel.

Viewers will learn about the panelists’ experiences growing up in their communities as Afro-Latinx. The conversation will focus on the Afro-Latinx perspective on racial injustice, racism, and colorism, as well as proactive approaches to identify solutions. Identities, challenges, and commonalities between the Hispanic/Latino and African-American cultures will be discussed.

Co-hosted by the Office of Hispanic Initiatives, the Hispanics Or Latinos and Allies (HOLA) Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Georgia Tech, and Georgia Tech Research Institute’s (GTRI) IDENTIFY@GTRI ERG

For a full list of Georgia Tech’s Hispanic Heritage Month events, click here.

 

Traveling While Black Exhibit at Ferst Center Through November 12

Traveling While Black Logo

Traveling While Black


A Virtual Reality Experience

August 13 – November 12
(no showings on Mondays or Tuesdays)
Noon – 7 p.m. (one showing every hour)
Richards Gallery Ferst Center for the Arts

Seating is limited – click the ticket link to check daily availability

On September 4, 11, 25 and 30 and October 2 and 30, patrons will need to allow for traffic and parking limitations due to the football game. Please visit the parking website for details as they are made available https://pts.gatech.edu/parking-on-gameday#node-244 

In this 20-minute, 360-degree virtual reality experience, you will sit with African American visitors at the famed Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C. as they share a moment of honest discussion, reflecting on their experiences of restricted movement and race relations in the U.S.

Academy Award winner Roger Ross Williams’ finely crafted film highlights the urgent need to remember this past, build critical empathy, and facilitate a dialogue about the challenges minority travelers still face today.

The stories told in Traveling While Black offer a multi-generational experience that can be shared by all. After the VR experience, participants will have the opportunity to gather in the lobby to reflect and respond. Please be aware that some of the stories shared include difficult images, language, and slurs experienced by the story tellers.

Participants will wear Oculus GO virtual reality headsets that will be cleaned and disinfected between each showing.

Not recommended for children under age 13.

Presented by Georgia Tech Arts in partnership with Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Traveling While Black is a Felix & Paul Studios production, distributed by PHI.

     

Latinos/Hispanics in STEM: A Career Path Series

Latinos/Hispanics in STEM: A Career Path Series is a new seminar series organized in collaboration between the Latino Organization of Graduate Students (LOGRAS), the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and the GoSTEM program.

These seminars will share experiences of successful professionals having a Latino/Hispanic heritage, and will be formed by a cohort of professionals who are working in academia, private industry, and government.

Seminar Dates: One Tuesday a month
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Dr. Nicole Mendoza
Senior Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

September 21st, 2021, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m.

More information about the centers and people involved in the organization of these seminars are below: