UCSC introduces new summer anti-racism fellowship
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION) UC Santa Cruz announced an anti-racism summer fellowship available to its students.
"And we think that there are many important ways in which engineering can help correct some of the injustices that were dealing with as a society," said Abigail Kaun, the Executive Director of the Jack Baskin School of Engineering at UC Santa Cruz.
The Fellowship for Anti-Racism Research (FARR) is a scholarship program focused on advancing anti-racism research. Students are supervised by faculty and explore racism and bias in technology and engineering.
Dr. Kaun said after seeing uprisings and movements of justice last year.,the they began to consider how the school could change to reflect these priorities the country is experiencing. They want their students to think about how engineering can have an impact.
“We're teaching our students coding, circuits, robotics, and biomolecular engineering," said Dr. Kaun. "Those things are hard to connect directly to principles of social justice and social goods. But you can do it if you are willing to think in new ways and think creatively. and that's what we're trying to do."
Last summer the school decided on several new projects including this new program but also revisiting their curriculum. They wanted to find a way to teach engineering students to have a sensibility towards race inclusiveness and diversity, she said. And one major goal is to educate students who are entering.
"Really make the tech industry produce better technology, be a better workplace. A more inclusive workplace for engineers of all backgrounds. If we can do that, we would be making such a huge difference. Technology is driving society now, equitable technology will drive a better society."
According to Basking Engineering, there will be two information sessions held to learn more about the program and the application process. Information sessions will take place Tuesday, March 16 at 4 p.m. and Wednesday, March 17 at 1 p.m.
The department said awards will range from $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the scope of the project.
