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Diversity & Inclusion Action Group on Place and Racial JusticeIn addition to the Diversity & Inclusion Committee, in spring 2020, SABER convened an Action Group on Place and Racial Justice. This group worked to (1) identify the issues of "place" that confer a sense of safety, or lack thereof, to our members identifying as People of Color and (2) assess actions that SABER and SABER members can take to promote awareness of and action surrounding racial justice in whatever place we select to meet with one another going forward. During the Virtual 2020 SABER Annual Conference, SABER undertook a racial justice self study. Dr. Kecia Thomas, Professor of Industrial/Organizational Psychology and African-American Studies, the founding director of the Center for Research and Engagement in Diversity, and the Senior Associate Dean of Franklin College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Georgia, facilitated the self-study. Learn more about this process and the results in these videos from the conference. |
SABER strives to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive biology education research community. We aim to create and sustain a community that reflects the diversity of stakeholders influenced by biology education research in higher education, in terms of who participates in SABER as an organization, the research context of studies presented at the meeting, and the diversity of the U.S. population. One of the society's core values is that excellence in teaching and research requires a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The society welcomes participation by all individuals including but not limited to age, gender, race/ethnicity, national origin, LGBTQ+ identity, religious identity, political affiliation, socioeconomic status, or disability status. SABER aims to promote diversity and inclusion in all areas of activity, including membership and recruitment, leadership, committees, annual meetings, and focus of research efforts.
Statement of Solidarity with the Transgender CommunityThe transgender community deserves to feel safe to express their gender no matter where they are. However, recent legislature and biases threaten people's safety and ability to be their authentic selves. In 2023, 600 bills were introduced into federal and state legislatures across the United States that seek to block trans folx from receiving education, basic healthcare, legal recognition, and the human right to publicly exist. We as an academic community stand in solidarity with the transgender community against these tragic injustices. As a biology education organization, we are committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment to support our students, colleagues, and their families. Since its founding in 2010, SABER has held its Annual conference at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, which resides in a trans sanctuary/refuge state. At the time of the writing of this statement, the state of Minnesota has legislation in place specifying that transgender folx are fully entitled to use the restroom of their choosing, without being singled out or needing to "verify" their gender (https://www.outfront.org/restrooms). Unfortunately, many folx around the country (including folx in trans sanctuary states) cannot live as their authentic selves without fear of violence, bias, or political attack. One of SABER's stated organizational goals is to "strive for an inclusive community", part of which requires us to better understand and respond to the injustices that impact the lives of our students, members, colleagues, and their families. Moving forward, we commit as a professional scientific society to educate ourselves about these injustices and to create a safe space in the places where we convene, whether that be in Minnesota or elsewhere. Furthermore, we stand opposed to systematic anti-trans actions to support our members, students, colleagues, and their families. A first step to address these injustices is to increase our understanding of the issues faced by transgender folx and how our own biases are potentially contributing to these issues. We have compiled a suite of resources that can help us which can be viewed at this link.
SABER's Diversity & Inclusion Efforts Between 2020-2022, the Society for the Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER) sponsored a series of virtual initiatives focused on advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice in biology education. Through recorded seminars, discussions, and research presentations, these programs promoted awareness, understanding, and commitment to creating more inclusive academic environments. Co-sponsored by partners including Arizona State University’s HHMI Inclusive Excellence Project, the SEISMIC Collaboration, Community College BIO INSITES, the ASU RISE Center, and UC Santa Barbara, the series also included a racial justice self-study during the 2020 Virtual SABER Annual Conference, facilitated by Dr. Kecia Thomas. Together, these efforts reflect SABER’s ongoing commitment to fostering equity and justice in STEM. View Past Talks Show more...Interrogating the center of STEM education Cynthia Bauerle, PhD, James Madison University Thursday, January 21st, 9 am PT Video Recording, Presentation Slides, Post-talk Q&A Addressing students’ basic needs with a culture of caring during the pandemic Sara Goldrick-Rab, PhD, Temple University Thursday, February 4th, 9 am PT Video Recording, Presentation Slides, Post-talk Q&A Structural racism, institutional transformation, and diversifying the STEM faculty Kimberly Griffin, PhD, University of Maryland Thursday, February 18th, 9 am PT Video Recording, Presentation Slides, Post-talk Q&A The influence of kindness and community in broadening participation Mica Estrada, PhD, UC San Francisco Thursday, March 4th, 9 am PT Video Recording, Presentation Slides, Post-talk Q&A-1, Post-talk Q&A-2 Systemic disadvantages for LGBTQ professionals in STEM Erin Cech, PhD, University of Michigan Thursday, March 18th, 9 am PT Video recording, Presentation Slides, Post-talk Q&A Disability culture in the academy: Stories, lessons & research Land of milk and "honey": Confronting gendered experiences in field research Nature-culture relations and engaging multiple ways of knowing Beyond information: Walking the path of truth, reconciliation, and liberation to make academic biology more inclusive Race REALLY matters. Discussion. Actionable steps toward equity in STEM. Discussion. Lessons from a hot spring: Authentic transformation in the higher education classroom. Discussion. Language matters: Considering racial microaggressions in science. Discussion But is it really “just” science? Engaging critical race theory to unpack racial oppression with implications for Black student science engagement. Seminar. Black women and belongingness: An interrogation of STEM education as a white, patriarchal space. Seminar. An exploratory investigation of the experiences of Black immigrant women in undergraduate STEM. Seminar. Brooke Coley, PhD, Arizona State University Video Recording, Presentation Slides, Post-talk Q&A This series is sponsored by SABER and these co-sponsors:
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