Abstract Detail

Conference Wide

Tuominen, L.K. [1], Theiss, Kathryn [2].

We are All Plumbers Now: Toolboxes for Building Unconventional STEM Career Pipelines.

Research on the representation in academic science of women, people of color, and people who have experience(d) disability has shown a pattern of decreasing participation at every career level. This phenomenon, commonly known as the “leaky pipeline” effect, is familiar to most science educators, and multiple structural changes to institutional policies and training processes have been proposed to help improve retention of diverse scientists. In this workshop, we will move beyond the familiar data and common focus on institutional change to discover ways in which early career botanists, especially graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and contingent faculty, can apply our problem-solving skills to address our current career challenges and continue towards satisfying science careers. While we will begin from the assumption that all present at the workshop are facing or have faced at least one challenge that has caused them to wonder, “Am I the Leaky Pipeline?”, such challenges need not be disclosed to other participants. Mentors seeking to support human diversity in botany are encouraged to participate. The goals of this workshop are to: • Identify several types of challenges that academic scientists face that may lead them to leave academic science, • Share information about known institutional and professional resources geared towards fostering diversity within biology, • Discuss science career pathways that diverge from the “linear pipeline” model, and • Create personalized written plans to help address a challenge each participant faces at their current career stage by using multiple “plumbing tools.” All participants will receive a workbook that will walk through a step-by-step process to address a current career challenge. An electronic copy of the workbook and online notes from workshop discussions will also be available to participants through the end of 2016.

1 - Metropolitan State University, Natural Sciences Department, 700 East Seventh Street, St. Paul, MN, 55106, USA
2 - California State University - Dominguez Hills, Department of Biology, 1000 East Victoria Street, Carson, CA, 90747, USA

Keywords:
human diversity
leaky pipeline
nonacademic careers
contingent faculty
postdoctoral researchers
professional development
student mentorship.

Presentation Type: Workshop
Session: WS09, We are All Plumbers Now: Toolboxes for Building Unconventional STEM Career Pipelines
Location: 203/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Sunday, July 31st, 2016
Time: 10:15 AM
Number: WS09001
Abstract ID:32
Candidate for Awards:None