Introductory Biology Lab classes provide opportunities for students to learn lab techniques, practice data
analysis methods, and develop critical analysis skills. However, science is not done in a vacuum, and the
connection between scientific research and broader social issues are important to highlight, particularly for
introductory students who are early in their scientific career journey. This workshop will describe ways that we
ask our introductory biology lab students to reflect on what it means to be a scientist, who is included in
scientific spaces, and why this matters. We have developed short modular assignments addressing these
questions that we have been implementing in a semester-long introductory biology lab course for the past few
years. In this workshop, we will describe the assignments, allow participants to interact with the assignment
resources, and discuss how these activities appear to impact students? feeling of belonging in STEM spaces.
Assignments to be described include: (1) ?Science under the Scope? by Sophie Wang
(https://freerads.org/2016/01/09/science-scope-1/), a comic series about science and social justice, (2) Scientist
Spotlights Initiative Project (https://scientistspotlights.org/about-us/), a program run by a group of students,
teachers, and scientists committed to making the sciences more inclusive by highlighting diverse voices, and (3)
values affirmation activities in which students reflect on what values are important to them and consider the
way they shape how they live their life. The workshop will end with a discussion about how these resources
might be modified for use at participant?s institutions. Intended for all levels, biology majors and non-majors.
Keywords: introductory biology, DEI,
University of Maryland (2024)
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