You Belong in Academia: Empowering Minority Researchers

!Two half days! Monday, 30 November and Tuesday, 1 December each from 9:00-13:00!

Women, people of color, expats, LGBTQAI+ and neurodivergent individuals often face unique and amplified challenges. 

Most DEI workshops are aimed at people who aren’t minorities (teaching allies to recognize bias, intervene well, and change their behavior). This workshop is the opposite: it’s built for minorities themselves, as the people who already know the problems exist and are often asked to educate others, while still facing draining daily challenges. Instead of spending the day explaining your experience to less informed colleagues, you’ll spend it on building your own home in academia through self-affirmation, assertive scripts calibrated for power asymmetry, wellbeing practices, flexible coping strategies for minority stress, and building a support network. We only discuss topics that will allow you, the minority researcher, to thrive despite a system that wasn’t built for you. You will leave with research-backed tools you can use right away to make everyday life as a science minority easier.

You’ll explore ways to strengthen your sense of belonging and well-being in academia, equipping you for success despite systemic and psychological barriers. In this hands-on workshop, which combines lessons with individual assessments and group discussions, you’ll learn and practice skills such as:

• Understanding who is a minority in science and why intersectionality matters,
• Recognizing when stereotype threat might affect your academic performance,
• Navigating imposter syndrome and self-doubt effectively,
• Reducing stress and preventing burnout with flexible coping strategies,
• Addressing bias and macro- or microaggressions,
• Enhancing well-being and mental health with evidence-based tactics,
• Mastering conflict resolution and assertive communication,
• Developing and strengthening your support network.
   

By the end of the workshop, you’ll gain practical tools to face and overcome pervasive challenges in academia. Imagine feeling empowered to confidently step into your role in the academic community. Join us to strengthen your sense of belonging as you pursue your academic career.