Empowering young minds, Mac iSTEP is fostering a new generation of Black innovators in science, technology, engineering and math
Mac iSTEP is an after school STEM program for Black youth developed by McMaster University’s science and engineering faculties. Mac iSTEP will begin their After-School STEM Club at the end of February. The program will run from February up until May of 2025.
The After-School STEM Club is an annual free program that features bi-weekly STEM workshops where students in grades 10 to 12 can gain volunteer hours, explore McMaster’s campus and engage in hands-on science activities. The workshops are two hours and take place in the Life Sciences Building at McMaster University.
Dylan Marshall, outreach director of Mac iSTEP, discussed the goals of the program.
"Our focus has historically been black high school students, due to the fact that there is a clear underrepresentation of black scientists in all fields of STEM. And so our main goal is to show black students that they can be a part of STEM," said Marshall.
Our focus has historically been black high school students, due to the fact that there is a clear underrepresentation of black scientists in all fields of STEM.
Dylan Marshall, Outreach Director
Mac iSTEP
The program will be delivered by four black-identifying mentors who are graduate students at McMaster.
"We do have a training session for them [the mentors]. We try to do it at different points throughout the year, just so we desensitize them to specific things to stress the ideas of what a mentor should look like. Understanding that we're working with students who are underrepresented and [from] equity deserving groups and how to approach that," said Marshall.
Mentors are carefully selected to deliver the best experience for students.
"We do go through a rigorous selection process. We actually hire our mentors, so mentors apply as you would for any job . . . we had a preference for Black students just because we want the students to be able to see themselves in their mentors," said Dylan.
Transportation was heavily considered to increase the program's accessibility. "In the case of our after-school program, we actually provide the transportation," said Marshall.
Students are recruited through the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Halton District School Board. Interested students apply through the program's registration form.
Marshall discussed the main difference between the After-School STEM Club and other programs they have offered.
"The after school club is going to be directly exposing them to all aspects of STEM. So we try to cover various workshops that are all STEM focused in the realm of biology, chemistry, physics, engineering . . . just trying to cast as wide a net as you can to expose them to a lot of different branches of STEM that they might not even have known existed in the past," said Marshall.
The necessity of the program for Black youth is rooted in the need for representation to diversify all fields in STEM. "A lot of them don't have that kind of role model essentially, to look up to, to see that it was possible beforehand. And so I think it's so important that we are proactive in showing them," said Marshall.
Marshall urges that students and faculty continue to push for more accessibility that fund programs such as the After-School STEM Club.
"Because, again, the reason why we have these gaps in STEM as of right now, is because there are issues in getting certain demographics into these positions. And so I think we have to push a bit more at this point to make sure that everybody has a seat at the table," said Marshall.
. . . there are issues in getting certain demographics into these positions. And so I think we have to push a bit more at this point to make sure that everybody has a seat at the table.
Dylan Marshall, Outreach Director
Mac iSTEP
If you're interested in Mac iSTEP's work, you can explore their programs, discover undergraduate and graduate student opportunities and follow their journey in supporting BIPOC youth by visiting their Instagram.
Students have an important role to play in advocating for more diversity within scientific research
Science seeks to discover and explore why things work the way they do. With such a broad scope, science is a diverse field of study including disciplines such as biological, environmental, political and social sciences.
Though while the disciplines within science are diverse, the same is not always true of the people working within these disciplines or the people consulted as part of research.
Particularly, the lack of diversity in the context of science research participants is an ongoing issue that has gained more attention in recent years.
Designing good studies that yield findings transferable to the real world is crucial and having a diversity of participants is a big part of this.
Small and non-randomized sample populations of participants make it difficult to extend results to the general population as the conclusions of these studies are derived from trials on a very specific group of people.
Despite these issues with methodology being apparent, a trend of poorly designed studies is seen across research in the field of medicine and healthcare and is one of science’s fundamental pitfalls.
Historically, health research has neglected and harmed communities of colour, creating deep mistrust in science. As most current day studies lack diversity, the findings drawn from this area of research cannot always be applied to people of colour and create gaps in quality healthcare access for racialized and other marginalized communities.
Historically, health research has neglected and harmed communities of colour, creating deep mistrust in science. As most current day studies lack diversity, the findings drawn from this area of research cannot always be applied to people of colour and create gaps in quality healthcare access for racialized and other marginalized communities.
However, science is becoming more inclusive in terms of both the individuals conducting the research and the populations involved in the research, by bridging communities through trust and understanding. Although we are beginning to see more representative research being conducted as science and society progress, we have a long way to go.
Students preparing to enter the scientific community as contributors must be aware of the existing gaps in scientific representation. We are responsible for advocating for equity in research and committing to ethical practices that prioritize diversity and inclusion.
To create positive ripples of change within science, we need to be more considerate of diverse and intersecting identities and strive to include groups such as racialized individuals, women, members of the 2LGBTQIA+ community and other underrepresented groups in science research.
Though it may seem like members of the science community are the only ones who can enact change, we all hold the power to change how science is researched and practiced.
Science research is publicly funded, and rightfully so, as everyone is affected by science. Discoveries made in the lab have a direct consequence for society through policy and practice across of wide range of sectors and industries such as healthcare, food and agriculture and energy to name a few.
The bottom line is that inclusion and diversity in science and science research benefit everyone. As diversity continues to increase within the science community, the innovation and creativity of projects is also growing. Diverse voices, with unique lived experiences, present solutions to various issues that may have gone unnoticed before.
The bottom line is that inclusion and diversity in science and science research benefit everyone. As diversity continues to increase within the science community, the innovation and creativity of projects is also growing. Diverse voices, with unique lived experiences, present solutions to various issues that may have gone unnoticed before.
Academia does not thrive when confined and limited by single perspectives. Intertwining different disciplines, perspectives and voices, on the other hand, creates opportunities for intersectional collaboration and development – opportunities that are desperately needed to solve pressing issues such as climate change.
The scientific community's commitment to inclusion enriches science. It’s time we prioritize diversity in science and science research.
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