Welcome back! I hope you had a chance to recharge over winter break. As we embark on what promises to be a busy spring semester, I have a few brief updates to share.
The application is open for a new round of CBS DEIJ microgrants. Students, staff, and faculty can apply for the funds, which support new or ongoing initiatives that advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the college. You can read about projects funded last year here. There’s so much good work happening around the college and these grants are one way of supporting DEIJ efforts at every level. I encourage you to check it out and apply!
On a related note, five CBS faculty members will begin the year-long Faculty Fellows for Inclusive Science Education program in February. This new iteration of the program provides faculty participants with support and structure as they explore inclusive teaching or mentoring in greater depth. Dr. Anita Schuchardt, an associate professor in the Department of Biology Teaching and Learning, will provide mentoring for current participants. Dr. Schuchardt is one of 29 past participants in this program.
If you are looking for a reason to be inspired by our wonderful students, check out the recent cover story in the Itasca Biological Station and Laboratories Upstream newsletter. A group of students formed the Itasca Booster Club as a means of sharing their enthusiasm for field biology and raising the visibility of the station among fellow students. It’s another example of how engaged CBS students are and their drive to make a difference.