Mentoring has the power to shape who stays, succeeds, and thrives in science, yet many mentors have never received formal training on how social identity, lived experience, and systemic inequities influence mentoring relationships. To address this gap, the SI-MI Mentoring (Social Identity Matters in Mentoring) Program has been developed by Read more…
The SI-MI Mentoring (Social Identity Matters In Mentoring) Program has been developed by a cross-Society group of plant scientists at all career stages with guidance and feedback from mentoring experts at CIMER and Movement Consulting. The SI-MI Program includes two complementary components: The SI-MI Mentoring Course, where participants will learn Read more…
The Maize Genetics Meeting recently wrapped up in Cologne, Germany. We had four travel awardee pairs attend the conference (some first-time conference attendees!). We also had a poster on the Si-Mi Mentoring Program, presented by ROOT & SHOOT Steering Committee member Brandi Sigmon, PhD. [Photo ID: A smiling woman standing Read more…
ROOT & SHOOT Travel Awards We’re happy to share that we received a significant number of applications for the 2026 conference season! Student and mentor pairs, at least one of whom must be a member of SACNAS, AISES, or MANRRS, will receive a $3000 award ($4000 for international conferences) to Read more…
By Marge Poma Alarcon This past October, I had the privilege of attending the National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference in Columbus, Ohio, organized by the Society for the Advancement of Chicano and Native American Scientists (SACNAS), where I helped table for the exhibition booth representing the NSF-funded ROOT & Read more…
Whatever your career stage, you will undoubtedly have experienced situations where conflicts or disagreements arise in the workspace. The ROOT & SHOOT RCN is partnering with Dra. Laura Minero, a licensed clinical psychologist, to offer an online training course that is designed to help plant biologists communicate more effectively. This course will help Read more…
The ROOT & SHOOT RCN has funds to support two student/early career scientists to attend SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. We ask that these volunteers spend time staffing the ROOT & SHOOT booth, answering questions about the RCN, the affiliated professional societies, and sharing Read more…
One of the goals of the NSF-funded ROOT & SHOOT Research Coordination Network (RCN) project is to work towards a culture where all are included, welcomed, and safe in our professional spaces, including conferences. Over the past three years, through the efforts of the Inclusive Conference Working Group, the RCN Read more…
On October 4, 2024, ROOT & SHOOT exhibited at the 2024 AISES National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. This was the first time ROOT & SHOOT exhibited at this conference, and it was a wonderful and worthwhile experience. We shared resources from across all participating societies, and talked to students Read more…
Attending SACNAS 2024? ROOT & SHOOT is organizing a session on Navigating Your Way to Careers in Plant Biotechnology Companies. This highly interactive session comprises an introduction of panelists: Maureen Onyeziri, PhD — Talent Development Lead at Corteva Agriscience April Agee Carroll, PhD — Pipeline Analytics and Digital Strategy Lead Read more…