Excellence in education and diversity are essential for developing our workforce in STEM, including optics and photonics. We know now that progress and innovation may be determined more by the diversity of working groups and by leveraging their individuality rather than by single scientific thinkers with high IQs. However, stereotypes can lessen the effectiveness of diversity and contribute to educational inequalities.
Why “Label-Free STEM” Education?
In microscopy, adding labels to a sample is crucial to identify and classify biological samples. However, the use of invasive labeling can damage the sample. In much the same way, applying labels to students can prevent the students from achieving success. The “Label-free STEM” initiative is designed to overcome stereotypes in STEM fields at multiple levels of education. This initiative will provide hands-on experiences on optics and photonics, with a distinct focus on inclusion and diversity. Our goal is to celebrate diversity and promote excellence in education regardless of our appearance.
Label-Free STEM objectives:
At the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Provide hands-on experiences with optics activities to high-school students through “Label-free STEM for High School” in the Charlotte area. We will stimulate awareness of and interest in physics and optics while inviting women and underrepresented communities in STEM fields to break stereotypes and serve as role models.
- The “Label-free STEM for Undergraduates” will offer hands-on experiences to undergraduates in physics and optical sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to bridge the gap between theory and experimental practice. In addition, this program will enhance students’ skills in optics and photonics toward success.
- Implement a “Label-free STEM for Graduate Students” program in the Department of Physics and Optical Sciences at UNC Charlotte to encourage peer learning and support among first-year graduate students and Ph.D. candidates.
“Label-free STEM for all”
We want to bring visibility and celebrate diversity and excellence in STEM fields on a global scale. The “Label-free STEM for all” is an invitation to break stereotypes around the globe. This social media campaign emphasizes the new labels we would like to use for STEM fields, i.e., curiosity, commitment, perseverance, passion for knowledge, altruism, and excellence.
Let us use #labelfreeSTEM to show the world our diversity, commitment to advance science, and how fun STEM fields can be!
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