For the asynchronous class, we will have a Discussion Board forum wherein the students describe themselves, including their backgrounds, interests, hobbies, hopes, and aspirations. This will be followed up with a personal meeting with each student – thus ensuring a personal connection along with better understanding of the student’s situation, and, hopefully, ensuring better engagement in the future.
We already keep wandering across the globe, using examples of research, and thinkers from across the globe, and citing lesser-known histories.
While going over the history and method of science, we already discuss people like Katherine Johnson, Maryam Mirzakhani, Michio Kaku, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ada Lovelace and Emma Noether. We also address ideas such as the Gou-Gu theorem (as against the Pythogorean one), the development of numbers in India and the Middle East, the history of Africa outside of Egypt, and more. Yes, we do go everywhere…
Our PowerPoints are replete with images from minority groups, but will try to supplement that material with videos, too.
But this time, in the in-person sessions, will also consistently bring up other minority researchers whose papers come out around the time of each class.
Am hoping these measures will make for a more welcoming environment for everyone.