Transforming the Lab into a Living Room: Faculty of Color Curating Communal STEM Learning Environments

• In Event: Advancing Faculty Diversity, Research, and Mentorship in STEM

Abstract

This qualitative study explores how Faculty of Color who mentor undergraduate research students in STEM fields humanize their lab environments. We explore how Faculty of Color curated their meetings with students, how they centered community over competition, utilized spatial aspects and curated a “vibe” in the lab, and how they sought to build community amongst everyone in the lab. Each of these contributions led to STEM lab environments that do not fit within traditional norms in STEM. Recommendations for transforming STEM lab environments that will broaden participation in STEM by centering inclusion and community will be provided.

Authors

• Courtney L. Luedke, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Angelina Lavinia Grace Ortiz, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Moe Ali Azaan, City Colleges of Chicago