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The Making of Future Scientists: Faculty Mentor Cultural Awareness and Inclusive Science Labs
Ivan A Hernandez1, Oliva Mota Segura1, Rosalva Romero Gonzalez1
1Department of Psychology and Child Development, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407.
CBE Life Sciences Education
|August 22, 2024
Summary
Culturally aware STEM faculty mentors foster positive lab environments and stronger science identities for racially marginalized and minoritized students. This improved identity boosts their motivation to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math careers.
Area of Science:
- STEM Education
- Social Psychology of Science
- Diversity and Inclusion in STEM
Background:
- Racially marginalized and minoritized (RMM) students face systemic barriers in STEM fields.
- Ideologically colorblind STEM environments, which disregard race/ethnicity's impact, deter RMM student participation.
- Faculty mentors' perceptions of diversity inclusion can influence RMM students' STEM persistence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how STEM faculty's cultural awareness influences RMM students' motivation to persist in STEM.
- To examine the role of faculty research mentors in signaling diversity inclusion or exclusion to RMM students.
- To understand the relationship between perceived mentor cultural awareness, lab social climate, and science identity.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal survey of 150 RMM students across 74 faculty-led STEM research labs.
- Assessed students' perceptions of their faculty research mentors' cultural awareness.
- Measured students' experiences of lab social climate and their identification as scientists.
Main Results:
- RMM students perceiving higher mentor cultural awareness reported more positive lab social climates.
- Perceived mentor cultural awareness was linked to stronger student identification as scientists.
- Increased science identity predicted higher motivation to pursue STEM careers three months later.
Conclusions:
- Acknowledging and valuing racial/ethnic diversity in STEM learning environments is crucial.
- Culturally aware faculty mentors enhance RMM students' sense of belonging and identity in STEM.
- Promoting inclusive STEM environments is essential for equitable participation and retention.
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