Letters to a Pre-Scientist is committed to supporting all aspects of diversity in STEM and ensuring an inclusive environment that is welcoming to everyone who interacts with our programs. We strive to maintain a culture where everyone who participates in Letters to a Pre-Scientist feels supported by the program to be their full selves.
We encourage scientists to share with their pre-scientist pen pal as much as they are comfortable about how their life experiences and unique situations have impacted their path through higher education and a career in STEM. We understand that for many scientists, this is the first time they are communicating with a young person about topics of personal and social identities. As the pre-scientists in the program are as young as 9 years old, a letter from their scientist pen pal may be the first time a pre-scientist encounters these topics; pre-scientists may come from backgrounds where they have varying levels of experience and understanding about topics of personal and social identities. Therefore, each pre-scientist’s response to these topics may vary greatly.
We know that real, personal stories help students to see that people with a range of different identities can become scientists, despite any obstacles they may face. We encourage scientists and pre-scientists to communicate, in an age-appropriate way, their stories to each other.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Executive Team with any questions.