Materials Today and Elsevier are delighted to announce the five shortlisted nominations for the Materials Today Agents of Change Awards. The recipients of the awards will be announced by 30th November 2023.
The summaries of the selected initiatives aim to offer the materials science community a glimpse into the varied and comprehensive strategies employed to foster inclusivity and diversity. We anticipate that these insights will inspire and educate others, encouraging them to embrace similar endeavors within their own spheres. We eagerly anticipate revealing the recipients of the awards soon!
Meet the shortlisted entries below (in no particular order):
- Prof. Elizabeth Cosgriff-Hernandez & Prof. William R. Wagner, Society For Biomaterials (SFB), USA and colleagues, and how they create an inclusive and family-friendly environment for their annual meeting, with recent introduction of pronoun stickers for name badges, a family support room, and “community mixers” for both the LGBTQIA+ Community, and the Black/LatinX Community. Read more.
- Dr. Vishal Chaudhary, Physics Department, Bhagini Nivedita College, University of Delhi, India started the Happy Mental Health Club in October 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown by showcasing the diverse talents of materials science students and addressing mental health stigma through online sessions and international conferences, with a particular emphasis on supporting underrepresented groups and breaking down social barriers to gender and LGBTQIA++ equality in research. Read more.
- Dr. Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK and colleagues run the ANEH Scientific Foundation, a non-profit organization in India, dedicated to advancing materials science education aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, promoting diversity and inclusivity, and providing resources and support to empower women and rural participants in STEM fields while fostering collaboration with national and international experts and partners. Read more.
- Berrezueta Palacios, Charlotte, Faculty of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, and colleagues organize the Nano-Science Summer School@Yachay (NSSY) for underrepresented graduate and undergraduate students, as well as underfunded researchers from the country and the region, by making outreach to local communities, particularly local junior science schools. Read more.
- Daniel Mukasa, California Institute of Technology, USA, and colleagues held under the leadership of the Black Scientists and Engineers of Caltech (BSEC) the inaugural Conference for Emerging Black Academics in STEM (CEBAS) by embracing a broader spectrum of disciplines, fostering an environment where attendees could appreciate and learn from each other's expertise, irrespective of their specific field of study. Read more.