Culturally responsive mentorship is vital as it fosters inclusivity, respect, and understanding in the mentor-mentee relationship. By acknowledging and appreciating the cultural backgrounds and experiences of their mentees, mentors can provide more effective support. This leads to a more significant and meaningful experience, promoting both personal and professional growth for Read more…
By Roshni Panwala From October 26th -28th 2023, I was fortunate enough to attend the National Diversity in STEM Conference (NDiSTEM) organized by the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) held in Portland, Oregon. This opportunity to attend and showcase my interest in plant science was provided Read more…
On October 26 and 27, 2023, ROOT & SHOOT exhibited at the SACNAS National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference in Portland, Oregon. ROOT & SHOOT Booth Helping us staff the booth were two student volunteers: Roshni Panwala, a PhD student from the University of Florida, and Janet Mansaray, a PhD Read more…
Thank you to attendees and panelists who participated in the informational session. A recording of this event, which was held October 13, 2023, is below. To learn more about application requirements and hear from past awardees about their experiences, please watch the video. Thank you to panelists: Leslie Holland — Read more…
We’re reaching the end of our second year of this five year NSF BIO-LEAPS-funded award. Here are some of the things we have accomplished in the past year. Inclusive Conferences Working Group Following several community listening sessions, members of the Steering Committee volunteered to lead a Working Group to address Read more…
Science has a culture that is safe and welcoming to some, but hostile towards others. As scientists and members of the scientific community, we have the ability to change the culture in which we work.
The ROOT & SHOOT Research Coordination Network (RCN) is a partnership that spans the discipline of plant science, comprising organizations that seek to identify and remove systemic barriers that prevent full inclusion within the discipline. Over the past year, a working group of compensated volunteers was tasked with identifying ways Read more…
Earlier this year, I was invited to talk about the ROOT & SHOOT project to a group of scientists. Although I was thrilled to have this opportunity, I had a few sleepless nights envisioning the possibility of angry outbursts from members of the audience. (I was preparing my talk at Read more…
On July 5, 2023, I participated in a workshop on the topic of social media and scientific communication, hosted by the Global Plant Council at the Society for Experimental Biology (SEB) conference in Edinburgh, Scotland. I focused on two topics: how we can make our communications more accessible to all, Read more…
Over the past year, the RCN has focused considerable attention on making our conferences safer and more welcoming spaces. Following the Inclusive Conferences Working Group recommendations, ROOT & SHOOT has partnered with the ADVANCEGeo Partnership to organize a set of bystander intervention workshops. This free training will describe different types of Read more…