Science is the most productive when we work to bring diverse people with diverse experiences together to solve complex problems. However, science careers are plagued with representation issues. There is a glass floor in science careers, with the majority of scientists coming from middle/upper class backgrounds and leadership roles mostly composed of white men. This issue largely stems from systemic inequities that exist in our society, including unequal access to science education and implicit biases that advisers impart on their trainees. The Scavuzzo lab is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion through outreach and mentorship.
Rise Up: Northeast Ohio
Rise Up brings real world, cutting-edge science into some of the most underfunded school districts in Ohio largely composed of low income and minority students. Rise Up receives grant support from several organizations that allow us to provide an immersive, “life as a scientist” program for students. Marissa serves as Scientific Director of Rise Up, with many lab members serving as Scientific Officers and/or Teaching Fellows, where they gain valuable experience in teaching and evaluating scientific proposals. Many of the high school students from this program work paid summer internships in the Scavuzzo lab (Rise Up Scholars program), creating a pipeline to bring historically excluded students into research careers. The partnership of the Scavuzzo lab and the Institute of Glial Sciences with Rise Up will continue to grow and have an impact on the community for years to come.