ASU to host STEM Inclusion Summit on Nov. 6 to foster collaboration and awareness

Arizona State University is gearing up for its third annual STEM Inclusion Summit, designed to bring together faculty, staff and students to focus on inclusion within STEM fields on Wednesday, Nov. 6th. The third iteration of the summit, first hosted in 2022, aims to provide a space for ASU members to discuss inclusive practices in STEM education, showcase relevant research and form valuable collaborations.

Sara Brownell, President’s professor in the School of Life Sciences, founder of the Research for Inclusive STEM Education (RISE) Center and a leading advocate for inclusivity in STEM, emphasized the summit's mission: "The primary goal is to get folks across ASU who think about inclusion in STEM into the same space. ASU is so big, and there are so many cool initiatives happening all over campus that it's hard to even know what's happening."

The summit invites all members of the ASU community - students, staff and especially faculty. "This summit is an excellent opportunity for faculty to meet potential collaborators and think about how they can incorporate inclusion into their teaching and research," says Brownell.

For many students involved in ASU’s RISE Ambassador program, a student-driven effort to improve inclusion at ASU, the summit is more than just an academic event—it’s personal. RISE Ambassador, Vincent Truong, explained how his involvement in the program has empowered him as an LGBTQ student. "Knowing that there are faculty who care about students like me, and who support my community, has been incredible.”

Nedah Hiermandi, also a RISE Ambassador, reflected on the importance of creating a sense of belonging through the summit. "Inclusion isn’t just a word—it’s about welcoming different identities, whether racial minorities, the LGBTQ community or people with disabilities. Events like this help make sure everyone feels seen and heard."

The event has evolved over the past few years. Initially created in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first summit focused on re-establishing physical spaces for connection. While an online component has been offered for accessibility, “we really wanted a physical space for people to think about inclusion," Brownell shared, emphasizing the importance of community-building after the isolation of the pandemic.

"In the past, we had more talks, but this year we're prioritizing informal conversations and networking," Brownell explained. This year, the summit will feature shorter talks to allow for more interaction between attendees.  One of the featured talks will be delivered by biology education researcher and Assistant Professor Katey Cooper, who will focus on how individuals with depression navigate science spaces. Another talk, by sociologist Monica Gaughn, will provide an update on ASU's Advance Grant, a long-term initiative aimed at promoting equity for women in STEM at the university.

There will also be a new portion of the event called “Table Talks and Ideas Walk.”  Attendees can informally meet with representatives from various organizations through “Table Talks," including LGBTQ and Jewish faculty groups, the Black Student Coalition, the Rainbow Coalition and Free Mom Hugs, a community organization known for supporting LGBTQ+ individuals, are among the many invited to participate. Additionally, the participants can contribute suggestions on how to make ASU more inclusive or provide their input on ideas presented by others through an “Ideas Walk,” where participants can collaboratively generate a visual set of recommendations. The board will encourage discussions on topics such as collaborative projects and challenges in creating an inclusive STEM environment. This is a place where your voice will be heard.

Attendees are encouraged to participate fully, but they are also welcome to attend individual sessions. This free event offers an invaluable opportunity for the ASU community to connect, collaborate and contribute to making STEM more inclusive. The event will also showcase research and initiatives through a poster session that anyone can submit to present.

The summit is supported by the HHMI Inclusive Excellence Grant team, with James Collins, Paul Lepore, Ariel Anbar and Brownell.

If you’re interested in attending, information, poster submissions and registration links can be found here, with deadlines approaching in mid-October. Don't miss the chance to be part of this exciting and impactful event at ASU. For more information and to register, please visit the STEM Inclusion Summit website, linked above.