The WiscAMP STEM-Inspire program at UWM is featured in the 2021 STEM for ALL Video Showcase: COVID, Equity and Social Justice, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. The video showcase started May 11 and runs through May 17.
The UWM program, in collaboration with the Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center of Excellence, submitted the video, Virtual Learning Communities, which shares the story of the impact of a collaborative effort among 10 federally funded projects to build a virtual learning series for underrepresented minority college students majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
In the video, Anique Ruiz, WiscAMP STEM-Inspire program director, and conservation and environmental sciences senior Cheyanne Koran discuss the role the speaker series, started in May 2020, played in helping students cope with the loss of jobs and other opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee WiscAMP STEM-Inspire Program is proud to partner with LSMRCE to host this series,” Ruiz said. “Our STEM scholars of color benefited greatly from their exposure to diverse industry experts and the series’ focus on innovation and wellbeing throughout the pandemic.”
In the video, Koran talks about her appreciation for the speaker series.
“This information that is relayed through the speaker series is very valuable, especially for someone who comes from a background like I do, where this information isn’t common knowledge.” She added, “I really appreciate fellow students to be there with me, to know that I am not alone. We get to take the speaker series knowledge, insights and information, and apply it to our lives and go on this journey together.”
UWM Interim Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, Chia Youyee Vang said: “This video showcases UWM’s deep commitment to diversity in STEM. We are so fortunate to have dedicated staff helping our students to realize their educational dreams.”
Now in its seventh year, the annual video showcase features more than 250 innovative projects viewed by over 70,000 visitors across the world aimed at improving science, math, engineering and computer studies education and broadening participation among historically underrepresented populations in STEM. The projects are funded by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies. During the eight-day showcase, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and members of the public are invited to view the short videos, discuss them with the presenters online, and vote for their favorites.
To register for future speaker series webinars starting this month, go to the Louis Stokes center website.
