Blending STEM and Society
The IINSPIRE Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation will hold its 2017-18 Annual Conference, Blending STEM and Society, was held February 2-3, 2018 at Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Coralville, Iowa.
The IINSPIRE Annual Conference featured invited speakers and concurrent programs of interest to both students and professionals. Students, faculty, staff, and other professionals attended the conference.
Keynote & Invited Speakers
You have the Answer: Innovating Solutions for Society’s Problems Through a Human Centered Computing Approach
Sanethia Thomas, University of Florida
Human Centered Computing (HCC) is focused on designing, building, and evaluating computational technologies as they relate to the human condition and reflecting on how these technologies affect society. Within HCC, technologies are developed to address national social matters by applying an interdisciplinary approach. The goal is to build innovative solutions to real-world problems by integrating people, information, culture, policy, and technology to address societal issues. By understanding humans, both as individuals and in social groups, HCC inherits the complexity of human-information and human-computer interaction with software engineering and systems integration. HCC is research that focuses on humans first and then technology. Senethia will discuss her career experiences as a HCC PhD student and how her work and the work of her research team blends STEM and society to solve problems.
The Trial and Tribulations of Graduate School: How Do I Make an Impact?
Antentor Hinton, University of Iowa
This presentation covered how to transition from undergraduate school to graduate or professional school and how to make your mark through time management and effective mentoring. In addition, this talk taught one how to identify their learning style, love language so that they know how they want their mentor to show love, help teach one how to network, and how to overcome challenges through renewing your mind with a champion’s mindset. Lastly, the presentation focused on how to overcome the challenges with interviewing and what sets one above the other applicants.
What Does it Mean to “Blend” STEM and Society?
Juanita Limas, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
URMs are in a unique position to help move STEM fields forward by the perspectives they bring to their research as well as to their community. Historically there has been a disconnect between scientists and the general public. Many don’t understand what scientists do, and scientists sometimes face challenges translating their research to non-scientists. Today’s climate makes it even more critical to improving lines of communication between these two groups. URMs can facilitate this dialogue bridging gaps and opening lines of communication, in essence, blending STEM and society.
Building Relational Skills to Boost Your Career
Sunday Faronbi, Rehoboth Consulting Inc.
You’ve been working hard through your college years. As a STEM professional, your hard work is about to pay off. You’ve received and accepted an offer of your dream job. It’s the beginning of good things to come. But your technical ability is just the launch-pad. The trajectory of your career is heavily dependent on the relationships you develop. Join us during this networking session to learn practical tips that will help you develop the skills necessary for building strong relationships. The connections you develop will continually give your career the necessary boost it needs at the appropriate times.
Awards Program
Undergraduate and community college students who conducted research or creative projects in STEM during the past year were invited to present their work as an oral presentation or poster presentation. Cash prizes were awarded to the students with the top three oral presentation and the top three posters in two categories, research and experiential. First place received $300.00, second place received $200.00, and third place $100.00. Students and faculty attending the event also voted for their favorite poster. The winner of the faculty favorite poster received a cash prize of $250.00.
Faculty, staff, and students also were recognized for their achievements in pursuit of achieving the IINSPIRE LSAMP mission and for their contributions to the program.
- The Stokes Award of Outstanding Service is granted to individuals, team, or organizations associated with the IINSPIRE Alliance for service at an exemplary level, in pursuit of the LSAMP Alliance’s primary goal to increase the participation of underrepresented minority students in STEM fields.
- The Excellence in Mentoring Award is presented to faculty, staff, and students who are actively involved with LSAMP students and assist students in setting and achieving their own academic, personal and professional goals.
A full list of the professional award and poster winners.
