The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) was awarded a conference grant through the NSF’s Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Initiative to host the first national Science Research Mentoring Programs Conference (SRMPCon). And we’re thrilled to be on board to evaluate this groundbreaking initiative! 🎉
SRMPCon will bring together leaders from 48 institutions across the U.S. that run mentored high school science research programs. AMNH’s mission is to drive a cultural shift in STEM workspaces, prioritizing evidence-based, inclusive mentorship—a crucial step toward equitable access, participation, and success for historically underrepresented populations in STEM.
These programs play a vital role in offering youth from diverse backgrounds supportive, scaffolded experiences in scientific practice. However, they often operate in isolation, missing opportunities to share solutions to common challenges—particularly in creating inclusive environments.
At SRMPCon, the team aims to:
- Share research on effective mentoring practices.
- Identify and define mentorship challenges.
- Uncover institutional drivers shaping mentorship.
- Design collective strategies to address barriers.
AMNH is also collaborating with STEM PUSH, an NSF INCLUDES Alliance, to disseminate SRMPCon outcomes widely and explore long-term partnerships for systemic change.
Together, we’re set to create a culture of inclusive mentorship in STEM that benefits everyone! 💪🔬
