The Science & Justice Research Center, with the Division of Graduate Studies, and the Office of African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) Student Success are building intentional collaborations with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in order to improve the training and development of future scientific leaders. Currently, we are working with North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCATSU) to provide UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) and NCATSU undergraduate and graduate students and faculty with important opportunities to gain valuable professional development experiences in the pursuit of research, community, and knowledge exchange.
Building Just Genomics with HBCUs
Through a Growing Our Own grant secured by the Graduate Division from the University of California Office of the President, SJRC Co-Director James Doucet-Battle seeded a research-focused collaboration with Dr. Joseph Graves, Jr. and Dr. Checo Rorie of Biological Sciences at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCATSU).
In June 2024, the grant enabled Doucet-Battle to bring 8 undergraduate STEM students, 2 graduate STEM students, and 1 ABC staff to NCATSU for one week. Participants learned about the history and context of scientific research at HBCUs as well as the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomic research. They worked alongside NCATSU graduate students and faculty in laboratories, presented research, and experienced the NCATSU campus and town of Greensboro during Juneteenth celebrations while strengthening partnerships for future visits – including the Science & Justice Visiting Scholar Program hosting NCATSU scholars at UCSC.
Students not only found the experience productive and challenging, they urged us to find ways of making future trips two weeks, even offering to help raise funds and recruit future applicants. To support these efforts, on November 20th we hosted a Building Just Genomics with HBCUs Giving Day 2024 campaign , and are plotting Summers 2025 and 2026.
Following the summer program, on Friday, November 22, 2024, we hosted the UCSC-HBCU Pathways Research Symposium featuring undergraduate research presentations from UC Santa Cruz, North Carolina A&T State University, and Howard University. Participants gathered virtually, to celebrate the cross-institutional connections and scholastic achievements of our talented cohort of students. We thank our partners, North Carolina A&T State University, the UCSC Division of Graduate Studies, and the Office of African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) Student Success for your collaborative efforts.
Partnering with SJRC to Experience Science at HBCUs and Building Just Genomics with HBCUs
Science & Justice collaborates with many academic and research units on-and-off campus through various research, curriculum and training practices for enacting science and justice together. Faculty Principal Investigators (PI’s) looking to partner with SJRC through event co-sponsorships, co-curricular opportunities for students and faculty, or grants, should consider becoming affiliated with the Center, and review our grant application and review process. Science & Justice hosts approximately 3-5 visitors annually, offering opportunities for scholars at all levels of their career to participate in our active community happenings. Find out the various ways to get involved through the Visiting Scholar Program and get to know our visitors.
We plan to apply to UCOP’s UC-HBCU Initiative (March 2025) to further support our Experience Science at HBCUs Initiative and our Building Just Genomics with HBCUs partnerships. Those interested in learning more or becoming a host lab are encouraged to join us on Tuesday, January 7th at 9:00am to discuss how to frame this years’ proposal. For more information contact Colleen Stone (colleen@ucsc.edu).
Funding Experience Science at HBCUs and Building Just Genomics with HBCUs
If you are interested in helping to fund our initiative now, note Experience Science at HBCUs or Building Just Genomics in the “other” portion of this Growing Our Own Initiative online page for donations. With support, we can expand projects to more HBCUs and more academic disciplines, as well as invite more students and faculty to participate. With help, we can offer fellowships that support this critical dimension of the training of future leaders in fields of science and justice, science policy, science and technology, biology, genomics, health and medicine.
Contacts
Dr. James Doucet-Battle, Sociology Associate Professor, SJRC Co-Director
Colleen Stone, SJRC Manager, Sociology Department Assistant
Participating UC Santa Cruz Faculty
Dr. James Doucet-Battle, UCSC Sociology
Participating UC Santa Cruz Programs and Staff
Lorato Anderson, Graduate Division, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Melissa Chimwaza, African, Black, Caribbean Student Retention Specialist
Lenora Willis, Executive Director for The Office of African, Black, Caribbean Student Success
Participating Faculty (outside UC Santa Cruz)
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCATSU)
Dr. Checo Rorie, Professor of Genetics, Biology Chair
Dr. Joseph Graves, Jr. Mackenzie Scott Endowed Professor of Biology