Partially supported by the AC’s CFREF grant, the six diverse projects, programs and events from across the U of T community break down EDI barriers and challenges and increase EDI in autonomous research
Multiple studies have shown that young girls lose interest in STEM in middle school, citing factors like stereotypes, lack of role models, and peer pressure as causes. Acceleration Consortium Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (AC EDI) Initiate Grant recipient and University of Toronto Department of Chemistry graduate student Christine Hood aims to change that.
Hood and her team, which includes graduate students Sofia Michailovich from the Department of Chemistry and Anita Hu from the Department of Chemistry and Temerty Faculty of Medicine, have received funding for their program Chemistry, Polymer, and Automation Learning for Students or ChemPALS, which will engage middle school and high school girls from diverse backgrounds with hands-on learning experiences in polymer science and automation. ChemPALS will introduce young learners to the field and guide them through experiments grounded by the scientific method, inspiring them to pursue their STEM ambitions.
“The goal of the ChemPALS program is to support young women and help them overcome systemic barriers that have led to their under-representation in STEM professions,” said Hood. “My hope is that through working closely with real scientists in an inviting, inclusive, and empowering space, the ChemPALS participants will see they can have a future in STEM.”
AC EDI Initiate Grants provide dedicated funding to support U of T students and faculty members as they launch new projects, programming, or events that address EDI barriers and challenges in the AC’s focus areas. The grants will support members of the U of T community in becoming EDI champions and developing new initiatives that lead to positive culture change in the research ecosystem by advancing EDI, accessibility, anti-racism work, and pathways to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and communities.
These projects, programs and events are made possible by the almost $200M grant from the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) awarded to the AC in April 2023, the largest federal research grant ever awarded to a Canadian university.
The six grant recipients are:
“Everybody should be included and have a shot at being involved at the forefront of science and engineering development as it relates to self-driving laboratories. We want to democratize how science is done,” said Alán Aspuru-Guzik, director of the Acceleration Consortium. “Our team is committed to creating inclusive environments that support diverse Canadians working in STEM and creating the best research outcomes.”
The Initiate Grants are one component of the AC’s comprehensive and innovative EDI Action Plan to remove systemic barriers to participation in research. Other initiatives include the Summer Undergraduate Research Program, a caregiver support program, and building inclusive research environments.
“Opportunities like the AC EDI Initiate Grants are vital for researchers as they directly address the systemic barriers under-represented groups encounter on a daily basis,” said Dr Barbara Fallon, University of Toronto’s associate vice-president, research, and chair of the AC’s Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee. “Diversity is imperative for innovation. Diverse voices interrogate conventional assumptions providing new insights to issues. This is precisely what we need in the scientific community today.”
