(611c) Strategies For Increasing The Participation Of Women And Underrepresented Minority Students In Undergraduate Research

Academic institutions have demonstrated a strong commitment towards increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities with advanced degrees. However, efforts stemming from this commitment oftentimes have little affect on the successful recruitment and retention of women and underreprented minorities in graduate (PhD) programs. In this talk we will explore strategies, rooted in the promotion of research participation among women and underrepresented minorities at the undergraduate level, that may prove viable to this end. We will analyze and address issues surrounding conventional approaches to inclusion and diversity in undergraduate research programs and suggest non-conventional approaches that may be effective.