Note about Systemic Racism and Injustice in STEM

First, there is no place for racism, injustice, and inequality in STEM. Momentum is building to take action against racial issues that have plagued our society for hundreds of years. STEM should not be left out of this conversation, as clear disparities span employment in Academia down to resources provided to elementary schools. As people take to social media with #shutDownSTEM, #shutDownAcademia, #Academics4BlackLives, and more, we must think about the actions we can take, small or large, to abolish the disparities in STEM. Some ideas/resources have been included below, and please reach out for more resources or if you have resources to add.

Open Letter and Training: Academics for Black Survival and Wellness

Education: Psychological Research on Racism; Equity and Inclusion in STEM and Academia; Movies and Shows; TED talks; books; podcasts

Advocacy: Graduate Student Letter to Lawmakers; posting on social media with the #’s above

Note about COVID-19

Difficult times for our world, nation, local communities, and families can surely produce panic and uncertainty. It is important that during these difficult times, we as a community listen to those in authority that are trained experts in these situations. Accordingly, please use the resources below to monitor the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), to check yourself for common symptoms, and to use preventative practices to avoid getting and/or spreading the virus. We have also included self-help information that can be used to keep calm during these potentially stressful times. We hope you stay safe, remain calm, and listen to experts.

Coronavirus Information: CDC Information; Harvard Medical School Information

Self-Help Information: Coping with Coronavirus Anxiety According to Psychologists; Coping with Stress during Disease Outbreaks; Taking Care of Behavioral Health during Disease Outbreaks

Online Teaching Resources and Activities: KidsOutAndAbout

The Mission

The ATL STEM Initiative is a newsletter that highlights local STEM programs in our Atlanta community.  Each month, one university and one junior high or high school program have the opportunity to display their labs, research, teachers, professors, upcoming events and more through abstracts and photos.  In doing so, we hope to promote a STEM community throughout Atlanta that can gain ideas from one another, foster a love of STEM education, and promote ongoing STEM events throughout the area.  We will also be advertising local organizations that promote STEM education in hopes that you attend the events and become involved with the organizations.  The ultimate goal is to produce youth in Atlanta that are excited about STEM topics and gain knowledge about STEM research and opportunities happening in universities, schools, and organizations around the area.

We hope that you will enjoy the newsletter articles, and get involved in the local STEM community! Keep an eye on the calendar for upcoming events! Please reach out to atlsteminitiative@gmail.com for questions, comments, and/or free associations.  We would also love for you to follow us on Instagram (@atlsteminitiative), Twitter (@AtlStem), and Facebook (ATL STEM Initiative).

Welcome and Enjoy!