Humanizing STEM: Higher Education’s Role in Realizing the Social Contract for Science
In 1997 Jane Lubchenco, the incoming President of the American Association for Science, issued a call for "a new social contract for science." She believed scientists should re-examine their obligations to society in order to serve society better, engage with society, and craft solutions to problems, not just diagnose them. 23 years later, reflecting on her call, Lubchenco believes the scientific community has made much progress in meeting those goals for greater engagement and responsibility in addressing our great civic and social challenges. However, she warns " the culture of academia continues to impede progress....It is time for strategic, collective action to change the culture of academia and create the enabling conditions for science to serve society better."
Since 2001 the thousands of science educators who have adopted SENCER strategies have worked tirelessly to change academic culture and play their part in delivering on the social contract between science and a truly inclusive democratic society. However, higher education institutions, as well as external economic and political forces, have made this work more difficult than ever through policies and practices that contradict academic values and principles. However, while our individual efforts seems like a drop in the ocean, they prove that the world we are working towards is possible, and these efforts have inestimable value to our students, our colleagues, and communities. This meeting's goal is to recognize, celebrate, and build community for the more humane, socially responsible, educational practice that will make a better future for us all and point the way to "strategic, collective action." Each of our Keynote speakers and session presenters embody this commitment and contribute to this goal.
Full Program is HERE