"Panelists also noted that Amherst is becoming a proving ground for increasing diversity in the STEM fields and cited, in particular, the Being Human in STEM course (an 'example of where Amherst is leading,' said Segre) and the College-funded summer internships ('absolutely critical,' said Leary, who previously studied STEM engagement for the White House Council on Women and Girls)."

“'My colleagues and I have a deep commitment to student success, and are genuinely distressed that students experience the struggles they do,' Jaswal says. 'So how can we and other people in our community bridge this disconnect? Especially we STEM professors, who have been trained in disciplines that view STEM as objective and color-blind, even as we bemoan the continued underrepresentation of folks at every stage of the so-called pipeline?'"

"Gender, class, sexuality and religion are all characteristics of a person that vastly impact their ability to succeed within the field. The course 'Being Human in STEM' that was offered in Fall of 2016, took a look at this issue. It surveyed students in STEM and found that women reported having more negative experiences in STEM than men."

“'Being Human in STEM' is modeled after a class of the same name that was piloted at Amherst College last spring. Like Yale, Amherst was rocked by difficult discussions about race last fall. In November 2015, what began as a display of solidarity for black college students across the nation evolved into a four-day sit-in and a movement that was dubbed the 'Amherst Uprising.' 
​In response to these conversations, Amherst chemistry professor Sheila Jaswal spearheaded the creation of a 'Being Human in STEM' class the following semester."