IINSPIRE LSAMP 2019-20 Annual Conference

Questioning the STEM Equation for Student Success

The IINSPIRE LSAMP Annual Conference, hosted by University of Northern Iowa, will be held on February 7-8, 2020 at University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA.

Keynote Speakers

Terrence Richard, Medgar Evers College

Reflections on Meritocracy and The Challenge of Building a Pipeline of Mathematicians from Underrepresented Communities

The notion of America as a meritocracy is an extremely powerful, resonant and motivating idea in the American educational landscape. This meritocratic impulse and its attendant complexities effectively frame the The Challenge of Building a Pipeline of Mathematicians from Underrepresented Communities. In this lecture, I will reflect on the idea of meritocracy through the lens of my work in the Mathematics Department at Medgar Evers College. Over the course of the talk, I will review aspects of the history of the undergraduate program in mathematics at Medgar Evers College, and discuss their implications for efforts aimed at diversifying the broader mathematics community.

Alicia Carriquiry, Iowa State University

Statistics and the Fair Administration of Justice

In the US criminal justice system, jurors choose between two competing hypotheses: the suspect is the source of the evidence found at the crime scene or s/he is not. Much of the evidence to inform these decisions comes in the form of images, which do not lend themselves to standard statistical approaches such as hypothesis testing. The likelihood ratio framework, which relies on Bayes’ theorem for assessing the probative value of evidence and is the basis for probabilistic DNA analysis, is difficult to implement in practice when evidence is in the form of an image. We argue that learning algorithms, a form of artificial intelligence, provide a good alternative for determining whether the evidence supports the proposition that the suspect may have been its source. We illustrate these ideas using firearms examination as an example.

Jocelyn Jackson, University of Michigan

You are Enough

Science. Technology. Engineering. And Math. What is the STEM equation for student success? While individuals who obtain or are obtaining degrees in these fields have to be intelligent and motivated, we still see these same individuals doubting their worth. This self-doubt leads to individuals in STEM discounting the possibility of genuinely achieving their dreams. While achieving dreams of success in STEM may seem daunting, Jocelyn breaks down success in the space as simply following three key pillars: Building self-efficacy, doing the right thing, and believing that you are enough. Through real-world stories and experiences, Jocelyn will be walking audience members through the realization that they are enough. This talk epitomizes the fact that where you start does not dictate where you will end. In this talk, Jocelyn asserts how, by following these pillars and staying aligned with one’s purpose, anyone can accelerate their transition from where they are today to places that they have only dreamed about.

Conference Schedule

Friday, February 7 – Saturday, February 8, 2020
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa

Registration Check-in:
8:00 – 5:30 PM – Friday, February 7, 2020
7:30 – 11:00 AM – Saturday, February 8, 2020

All attendees must check-in prior to participating in the events.