DEI Cinema: “PICTURE A SCIENTIST” screening – Discussion with guest panelists to follow – yes, it is a MORNING movie!

Yes, a movie that early in the morning – Popcorn will be provided!

Our panelists are from ISU: Dr. E. Ebrahimi (AGRON), Dr. R. Raman (ABE), and Dr. J. Wright (ABE):

PANELISTS:

Dr. Elnaz Ebrahimi is an assistant teaching professor in the Agronomy Department at Iowa State University, with 75% teaching and 25% research and service appointments. She teaches crop science classes (Agronomy 501 and 531 in the distance MS in Agronomy program and in-person Agronomy 392). Her research focuses on the system’s hidden half,  crop roots, and cropping system modeling. She uses cropping system models such as APSIM to understand and interpret different mechanisms involved in soil crop relations.

Dr. Wright is an ISU Teaching Professor. He led the implementation and development of the George Washington Carver Teacher Education Program. A one of the first of its kind in the nation, 6-week start-up of a new federally sponsored education consortium initiative. In collaboration with the Presidents of a private college, public university, community college, and their administrative and support staffs. This unique initiative enabled working adults to complete all the requirements for teacher certification, obtain an Associate of Arts degree from the Des Moines Area Community College and a joint Bachelor of Arts degree from Iowa State University and Simpson College in an affordable, accelerated program. After receiving the National Distinguished Award for Outstanding Programs from the Association for Continuing Higher Education. Wright shares, “I was delighted and honored to be a part of this new and exciting collaborative effort. The level of passion and excitement from the students was extremely positive and refreshing.”

Dr. D. Raj Raman is a Morrill Professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, with a research/teaching joint appointment. He has enjoyed working with multiple faculty, staff, and graduate students in Agronomy over the past 17 years at ISU, and has been involved in a variety of DEIB efforts over the course of his 30-yr career as a faculty member.

PICTURE A SCIENTIST (runtime approx. 1 hr) chronicles the groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks, and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences in the sciences, ranging from brutal harassment to years of subtle slights. Along the way, from cramped laboratories to spectacular field stations, we encounter scientific luminaries – including social scientists, neuroscientists, and psychologists – who provide new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable, and open to all.

• Organized by the Agronomy Dept. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee •