A new opportunity to support professional development opportunities and foster diversity and inclusion was launched within the University of 撸sir视频ʻi at Mānoa (SOEST). A total of 16 projects were awarded funding for spring and summer 2024.
Catalyst Awards for Science Advancement (CASA) are small grants, up to $3,000, in three focus areas: technical training and holistic career development of female 撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频, staff, and faculty who are a part of ; advancing diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and/or fostering a Native 撸sir视频ian place of learning in SOEST; and attracting and training the next generation of planetary explorer-scientists.
“It was amazing to see such innovative and impactful activities proposed,” said Barbara Bruno, CASA program director. “Many were collaborative, bringing together faculty, staff and 撸sir视频 from across SOEST. It’s exciting to support such great projects.”
Supporting professional development
Women-in-SOEST members received support to conduct fieldwork and laboratory experiments, purchase equipment, attend workshops, present at national and international conferences, and develop new research collaborations. Fernanda Henderikx-Freitas traveled to University of California, Santa Barbara to learn a state-of-the-art technique to characterize oceanic particles, Emily Costello will present an invited talk at an upcoming astrobiology conference, and Juliana Peckenpaugh and Meryem Berrada enrolled in an online data science course.
“I’m incredibly thankful that the CASA funding will allow me to take a prestigious course in data science offered by Harvard University to boost my skills in this field and provide workshops to Women-in-SOEST members to ensure nobody gets left behind when it comes to programming and data science,” said Peckenpaugh, a SOEST 撸sir视频uate student.
Community, student outreach
All SOEST 撸sir视频uate 撸sir视频, faculty or staff members were eligible to apply for a grant to further DEI or conduct outreach to train the next generation of planetary science explorers. Funded projects also included outreach to community members and K-12 撸sir视频 in 撸sir视频ʻi.
“I was so thankful for the CASA grant funding that allowed me to bring Graduate Women in Science volunteers to four high schools around the state of 撸sir视频ʻi, as well as fund a visit from female 撸sir视频 at Maryknoll High School to come and visit labs at 撸sir视频 Mānoa,” said Linnea Wolniewicz, a 撸sir视频 Mānoa computer and information sciences 撸sir视频uate student. “It was very special to be able to educate 撸sir视频 on discovering exoplanets from a completely female cohort of scientists, and inspire young girls to attend college and study science.”
In addition, the CASA program requires funded projects to disseminate what they did or learned, creating a positive ripple effect wherein others can benefit from their experiences and knowledge gained.
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–By Marcie Grabowski