We're excited to host the GRAD 202: Racism in Science course for all first year basic sciences PhD students, offered by the Graduate Division Dean's Office.
Instructor:
Aimee Medeiros, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
Graduate Student Instructors:
Trase Aguigam, Tetrad PhD Student
Antoine S. Johnson, History of Health Sciences PhD Candidate
Geremy Lowe, History of Health Sciences PhD Student
Course Dates: Fall 2021, Sept. 23/24 – Dec. 9/10
**there will be no classes on Nov. 11 and 12 (Veteran’s day), and on Nov. 25 and 26 (fall break).
Course Description
This introductory course provides the historical background of systemic racism in scientific research. It explores the relationship between notions of race and science and how scientific research has been informed by and perpetuates anti-Black racism. This course also examines the impact of bias and a lack of diversity in science and ways in which to address these deficiencies. Students will learn the principles of social justice-oriented scientific research and its potential.
Course Objectives
- Execute the principles of social-justice oriented scientific research.
- Analyze how scientific research can naturalize racial inequalities.
- Identify specific historical examples of anti-Black racism in scientific research.
- Describe how implicit bias and lack of diversity undermine science.
Course Schedule
Week 1 – Introduction: Does Science have a racism problem?
Week 2 – What does it mean to be an anti-racist scientist?
Week 3 – Black STEM, DEI, and Bias Training
Week 4 – Science and Racial Categorization
Week 5 – Race as a Ghost Variable
Week 6 – “Race Correction”
Week 7 – Genetics: Past, Present, and Future
Week 8 – Break
Week 9 – Scientific Research
Week 10 – Break
Week 11 – Practical Applications
