Discussions on decolonizing the curriculum are common in Humanities and Social Science Faculties but still rare in the Physical Sciences. In this commentary, we describe the work we have conducted to begin decolonizing and diversifying our undergraduate chemistry curriculum. We also discuss what it means to decolonize chemistry and reflect on why…

Undergraduate research is a valuable experience that increases the likelihood of a STEM major to continue on to postgraduate training in their field. For students from groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, a strong mentoring relationship during this undergraduate period is a key component in preparing them for the next stage of their…

The biographical stories of scientists and engineers, particularly those from historically excluded groups, have been integrated into the curriculum for a materials science course. The goal is to help students connect and relate to the scientific content, while opening the door to conversations about social justice in the virtual classroom. We…

There has been considerable research on potential academic factors that can predict success in college introductory science courses. In order to support high success rates for students, some institutions across the country have implemented diagnostic tests to determine which students are eligible to take introductory chemistry classes. These tests…

Graduate training is a key element in producing a scientific workforce that reflects the nation's diversity. This paper examines data from a 2013 American Chemical Society (ACS) survey of 2,544 chemistry masters and doctoral students and reveals barriers to reaching this goal. Multivariate statistical analyses indicate that women reported…

Individuals with differing abilities have long been underrepresented in STEM fields. A continued challenge to inclusion is appropriate access as well as accommodations and a general lack of universal design in university, classroom, and laboratory spaces. Instructors play a crucial role in the long-term retention and success of students with…

Persons excluded due to ethnicity or race (PEERs) leave STEM at disproportionate rates; therefore, efforts to engage undergraduate PEERs are critical to creating a diverse STEM workforce. Through a Howard Hughes Medical Institute funded Inclusive Excellence grant (HHMI-IE), the REALISE (REALizing Inclusive Science Excellence) program was developed…

We conducted semistructured interviews to investigate the experience of two nonbinary students in an undergraduate chemistry program. Students described experiences with struggling with identity, hiding identity as a form of defense, discrimination by peers based on perceived gender, perceptions of unsympathetic instructors, and mental health…

Evidence from the past several decades has repeatedly found that the chemical enterprise presents systemic barriers for people with marginalized identities. Initiatives and actions that remove systemic barriers and support the success of all students, especially those from equity-deserving groups, are essential. However, fostering a culture of…

This article examines the intersection of environmental justice and undergraduate chemistry education through a review of existing publications that highlight successful strategies for chemistry educators interested in incorporating environmental justice into their classrooms. It emphasizes the key roles of racial and social justice in the…

Comprehensive community development programs in a university provide the opportunity to bring awareness to diversity, inclusion, and equity in students' research projects. Unfortunately, the Indonesian higher education system is not yet fully inclusive of all of these issues. Students competed in a Student Creativity Program (PKM) project with…

Many academic institutions have looked at various ways to make their faculty a more diverse and inclusive group of people that better reflect the demographic swath of their current and future student bodies. This is even more so important in chemistry departments, where there has long been a discussion on the "leaky pipeline" for women…

The chemical enterprise is recognizing that inclusive and equitable environments are essential to its mission and advancement. As such, the education and training of chemists requires a reassessment of how academic programs integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a core principle of educational quality. This article describes a 3-year…

The minoritization of women among the ranks of faculty is well-documented in STEM fields. Prompted by the underrepresentation of women in the ranks of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Chemistry faculty and postdoctoral researchers, faculty and graduate student leadership wished to explore the factors that influence the career choices of women…

We describe programs developed and implemented at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Chemistry aimed at increasing representation and improving outcomes for graduate students from underrepresented minority groups. We briefly describe our Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU), Chemistry Opportunities (CHOPS), Catalyst, and…