Q&A: Longtime university program for STEM diversity takes off at other schools

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Meyerhoff Scholars Program has put a specific focus on training and retaining minority scientists, including U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams. A new analysis finds that implementing a similar program at Penn State and UNC Chapel Hill had a similar — and in some cases better — effect. I spoke with UMBC biochemist Michael Summers, one of the report’s authors, to learn more.

Why is it important to have diversity in science?

There are many, many reasons. One that is close to my heart is health disparity. You don't have to be a black scientist to study issues relevant to black populations, but somebody makes a decision about how to spend government funding. And if there aren't women or black people to help point out the need, then those issues don’t get any attention or funding.

What was surprising to you about the findings?

It was surprising that it worked so well at Penn State, where there aren’t a lot of minority students, and UNC, where there’s a history of racial tension. And if you could do it at that those two places, you ought to be able to do it anywhere.