Diversity in STM

In Amsterdam, the IMC Weekend School has received a grant to foster the future of science and to help underserved children from 10-14 get greater exposure to science and health education, the Elsevier Foundation will donate $100,000 over four years to IMC Weekend School. The grant supports weekend enrichment modules that not only encourage STM careers among youth from communities that have severely limited educational resources – but also promote positive professional role models.

In London, the Foundation will support the launch of Imperial College London’s “White City Maker Challenge” program offering 14-18 year olds from one of London’s most disadvantaged urban communities the opportunity to enhance soft skills and engage with cutting-edge science, engineering and design through workshops, afterschool clubs, mentoring and project team.

In the US, the Foundation will support the New York Academy of Sciences’ (NYAS) highly successful After-School STEM Mentoring Program, a partnership with the Youth and Community Services Department of the City of New York designed to reach the city’s most underserved children. Inspiring more than 1,300 Middle School students each year, the After School Program trains graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to mentor 8 -14 year olds. With funding from the Elsevier Foundation, the NYAS will expand their program into the geographically isolated neighborhoods of New York City.

Advancing Women in Science

Since 2012 the Elsevier Foundation Awards for Early-Career Women Scientists in the Developing World recognize the achievements of researchers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of scientific knowledge. The program is run by TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) and the Elsevier Foundation.

Portia/Gender Summit and The Elsevier Foundation developed a 3-year strategic partnership to promote the understanding and adoption of gender-sensitive approaches, and advance sex-gender sensitive research, innovation and development.

GenderInSITE, or Gender in science, innovation, technology and engineering (SITE), is an international initiative to promote the role of women in science, innovation, technology and engineering, and to demonstrate how applying a gender lens to SITE can provide deeper insights, more effective programs and more sustainable outcomes in the context of development.