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Diversity in chemistry: catalyzing change

Nature Chemical Biology volume 3, pages 299–302 (2007)Cite this article

African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans are significantly underrepresented in chemistry and related sciences. An innovative approach based on course revision, peer support, precollege training and strong mentoring offers promise for engaging and retaining more underrepresented minority students and more members of the majority population in these fields.

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Figure 1: 2005 data on the US population and doctorates awarded.
Figure 2: Glowing pickle demonstration.
Figure 3

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for the professorship that has enabled me to begin implementing some of these ideas. I have learned a great deal from many of my fellow HHMI professors. I also thank the staff of the Posse Foundation (particularly its founder and president, D. Bial) for their contributions. Many of the ideas contained here have resulted from conversations and focus groups with Brandeis students, faculty and staff.

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  1. is in the Department of Chemistry and Volen National Center for Complex Systems, Irving R. Epstein, Henry F. Fischbach Professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor, Brandeis University, MS 015, Waltham, Massachusetts 02454-9110, USA. epstein@brandeis.edu,

    Irving R Epstein

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Epstein, I. Diversity in chemistry: catalyzing change. Nat Chem Biol 3, 299–302 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio0607-299

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