Empowering a Diverse And Inclusive Culture Between The UW and NOAA: Creating The UW DEI Catalogue.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) students in universities and colleges have the capacity to be effective problem solvers and provide a richer environment in professional workplaces. More notably, Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) and underrepresented minority students in STEM degrees. The variety of perspectives and ideas from these distinct individuals works in favor to elevate any organization. Specifically, within university and workplace collaborations which will cultivate a diverse recruitment pool. In my internship with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) West Coast Region (WCR) office, I conducted research to showcase the opportunities and programs particularly within the offices, clubs, and schools at UW that have a diversity, equity and inclusion unit. My interviews with NOAA staff also enforced the mission to implement and advance diversity and inclusion efforts, these folks wanted to see representation of all different types of backgrounds in the workplace. Many of them were interested in promoting the Liaison program between the UW and NOAA Fisheries. The purpose of my work was to highlight existing scholarships, internships, fellowship programs, and educational partnerships whom Dan and Steve at NOAA can use to do outreach and raise awareness of the Liaison program, and DEI framework in the West Coast Region. In light of creating the UW DEI catalogue, the West Coast Region office hopes to achieve the diversity and inclusion goals with initiatives to recruit a diverse workforce and develop outreach and educational partnerships.
