Teaching a women-in-science course lessons from a biologist


SOCIETY FOR INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
2021 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING (VAM)
January 3 – Febuary 28, 2021

Meeting Abstract


41-13  Sat Jan 2  Teaching a women-in-science course: lessons from a biologist Challener, RC; Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY rchallener@bellarmine.edu

There are many courses offered to undergraduates on the history of women in the sciences (WIS) and the current conditions and issues that WIS face. It is a timely topic to offer to our students, both male and female, in the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines to increase their awareness and understanding of the challenging and celebratory moments WIS have had and will have. Most of these courses, if available, are offered through Gender and Women’s Studies departments. The purpose of this talk is to highlight that it is quite possible for a scientist to teach this course and thus to encourage others to offer it at their institutions. In the Spring of 2020, I designed and co-taught an Honors seminar on WIS to undergraduate students (n = 15) whose majors were highly diverse (Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Psychology, Math, Music, Nursing, and Exercise Science). The course was divided into four sections: the history of WIS, the current issues WIS face, the cultural contexts surrounding WIS and what the future might look like for WIS. Students found the material and diversity of topics highly engaging and relevant to their current and future personal and professional lives. This talk will discuss recruiting co-instructors, syllabus design, and the major ‘takeaway’ lessons learned from this endeavor. Ultimately, from readings and topics to the size of the class (large or small), there are many options and possibilities for a course of this nature.

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