Brooklyn College Center for Achievement in Science Education Wins National Award for Its Inspiring Programs in STEM

Claudia Melo '21 works in a laboratory as part of the National Institutes of Health-funded “Maximizing Access to Research Careers program,” just one of the many STEM-centered initiatves in the college’s Center for Achievement in Science Education (CASE) program.

The Center for Achievement in Science Education (CASE) at Brooklyn College has received the 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education. Part of Brooklyn College’s School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences, CASE works to increase the number of traditionally underrepresented students who pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, scientific research, and technology.

The INSIGHT Into Diversity Inspiring Programs in STEM Award honors colleges and universities that encourage and assist students from underrepresented groups to enter the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Brooklyn College will be featured, along with 78 other recipients, in the September 2021 issue of the magazine. The winners were selected by INSIGHT Into Diversity based on efforts to inspire and encourage a new generation of young people to consider careers in STEM through mentoring, teaching, research, and successful programs and initiatives.

“We know that many STEM programs are not always recognized for their success, dedication, and mentorship for underrepresented students,” says Lenore Pearlstein, owner and publisher of the magazine. “We want to honor the schools and organizations that have created programs that inspire and encourage young people who may currently be in or are interested in a future career in STEM. We are proud to honor these programs as role models to other institutions of higher education and beyond.”

The programs that are part of CASE identify new ways in which students can learn mathematics and science. Many students in the CASE programs have the advantage of taking STEM classes designed to increase understanding of traditionally difficult courses that offer peer-assisted learning environments and coordinated learning communities where students feel more comfortable and find it easier to grasp difficult concepts.

Students can participate in pre-freshman bridge programs that help orient new students to the demands of college and the rigorous nature of studying a STEM discipline. They also take a series of workshops to learn study skills, time management, test taking, as well as participate in hands-on research.

“Innovative and successful, CASE provides students access to the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and encourages their further career development and entry in STEM occupations,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Anne Lopes. “This award reflects the rich diversity and talents of our students, faculty, and staff as well as the visionary leadership of CASE Director and Professor of Psychology Louise Hainline and the efforts of her team.”

CASE comprises several programs, most of which are federally funded with the aim of increasing participation in these fields by underrepresented groups.

• Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC): MARC is an honors program funded by the NIH’s National Institute of General Medical Sciences that offers faculty mentoring, research experience, and an annual stipend to academically strong juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups who are interested in entering graduate programs leading to research careers in the biomedical sciences.
• Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP): CSTEP, funded by the New York State Department of Education, aims to increase the number of historically underrepresented students who enroll in and complete undergraduate programs that lead to professional licensure in accounting, law, medicine, and nutrition, as well as other careers in mathematics, science, technology, and health-related fields.
• New York City Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (NYC-LSAMP) is a CUNY-wide initiative funded by the National Science Foundation that aims to ensure a long-term capacity to produce more underrepresented groups to develop STEM careers. This program is primarily for freshmen and sophomores and provides seminars in research and opportunities for research involvement including some financial support.
• SURGE-ESTEEMED is funded by the NIH’s National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. The goal is to support educational activities that enhance the diversity of the biomedical research workforce through early preparation for undergraduate students in STEM fields. SURGE provides enrichment and training for entering freshmen and sophomores interested in research in biomedical fields.
• BP-ENDURE from the NIH’s National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke, CASE’s newest program, provides junior and senior undergraduates from underrepresented backgrounds who are interested in doing research in the neurosciences with preparation, mentoring, and financial support to enter Ph.D. degree programs in the neurosciences.

For more information about Brooklyn College’s CASE program, contact CASE Director Louise Hainline at Louiseh@brooklyn.cuny.edu.