University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) students, faculty and staff joined students from the U.S. Territories of Guam and Puerto Rico at the National Diversity in STEM (NDiSTEM) Conference in Phoenix, Arizona held Oct. 31 – Nov 2. Hosted by the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), the event is the largest multidisciplinary and multicultural STEM diversity conference in the U.S.
Among the 20 USVI participants were seven UVI undergraduate students, four UVI graduate students, four UVI faculty and staff including a representative from the VI Coastal Zone Management Agency (CZM)/ VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), and five UVI workforce fellows. For many it was the first large STEM diversity conference they had attended.
Amanda Boissiere, a St. Croix native, UVI graduate and U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Securing STEM Island Pathway Workforce Fellow spoke highly of the experience stating, "I loved the cultural element of SACNAS—it was a STEM conference that truly embraced diversity and welcomed individuals from all walks of life. Networking with and learning from scientists across the nation was incredibly inspiring, and it motivated me to take the next step in my academic journey by applying to graduate programs."
Participation in the conference was made possible through the Navigating Home project, a National Science Foundation-funded alliance of the United States territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The project is dedicated to supporting individuals from historically marginalized and underrepresented groups in the geosciences hailing from one of these territories. A total of seventy-one alliance representatives attended the conference. To learn more about the Navigating Home Project and workforce fellowship opportunities visit https://www.navigatinghomeproject.com.
“Our commitment to diversity brought together a vibrant group of islanders, allowing them to connect across oceans at this conference. In addition to connecting with Alliance members, the conference created opportunities for professional development, cultural celebrations and peer connections,” said Elisabeth Leerdam, UVI’s Center for Marine and Environmental Studies SEAS Islands Alliance coordinator. “It was an honor to represent UVI and our U.S. territories.”
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