UC Davis graduate students can apply now to participate in the Asking Different Questions Scholars program for Spring Quarter 2021. This quarter-long research training workshop is grounded in a commitment to social justice, and welcomes researchers who seek to better incorporate their values into their scholarship. Programming will take place on Fridays from 12-1:30 pm.

The attrition of BIPOC (Black & Indigenous People of color) from STEM disciplines, as well as severe gaps in research and knowledge that disproportionately harm BIPOC, are a mandate to improve research culture and the knowledge it produces. The Asking Different Questions Scholars will be equipped with the tools to rethink how norms are replicated and how research questions are determined -- necessary steps to creating more diverse STEM fields. ADQ Scholars will have explicit conversations about research culture and practices and learn how to integrate the experiences and values of those historically excluded from the university.

ADQ Scholars will:

• Attend weekly 1.5 hour workshops (Fridays 12-1:30), where they will learn insights from decades of work in feminist science studies and critical race science studies.
• Have facilitated conversations about research culture and practices and learn how to integrate the experiences and values of those historically excluded from the university.
• Apply lessons learned to their research and training.
• Find community with researchers who share justice-oriented values.
• Receive one unit of graduate credit (if desired).

Apply here. We will be reviewing the first round of applications on March 19th and admission will continue after that on a rolling basis.

Workshop topics will included:

• Identity and Belonging in Science
• Identifying Bias in Scientific Research and Training
• Making More Accurate Knowledge
• Moving from Asking Different Questions to Action-Oriented Change
• Re-structuring Studying Race and Gender (revised session)
• Valuing Community Expertise in Research (new session)
• Militarism, Surveillance, and Academic Research (new session)
• Toxic Landscapes, Environmental Justice, and Health Inequities (new session)

You can view the first inaugural Asking Different Questions research training series, which happened in Fall 2020, on YouTube.