10/2017

The CCHF participated in the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE) conference once again this year.

NOBCChE is a non-profit professional organization that brings together hundreds of minority chemists and chemical engineers to its annual conference to offer attendees chances to network, attend a variety of workshops, and present their scientific research. The career fair at the NOBCChE Conference is a major attraction for all minority chemists/chemical engineers’ attendees looking for professional opportunities; summer research, graduate school, medical school, and professional careers. The CCHF partnered with the Emory Department of Chemistry including other Centers of Chemical Innovation (CCI) to showcase the opportunities for collaborative research. Dr. Lloyd Munjanja, CCHF Director of Education, Outreach and Diversity, and Dr. Sidney Wilkerson-Hill (Professor Huw Davies Postdoc) represented the Center at the conference this November. Dr. Lloyd Munjanja chaired the Inorganic Technical Session at the conference where he had a chance to talk about the collaborative synergy in the CCHF. Dr. Sidney Wilkerson-Hill was involved in the NOBCChE Professional development committee.

Centers for Chemical Innovation Directors of Education, Outreach and Diversity and other representatives were present at the conference. They utilized their time at the conference by meeting for two days at the University of Minnesota to discuss best practices for collaboration in CCI integrative activities. Some of the ideas generated included discussions on how to be more inclusive to the STEM disability community, and how to encourage CCI members to think about diversity, inclusion, and equity in STEM. The CCI Directors of Education, Outreach, and Diversity also had an opportunity to converse and network with National Science Foundation, Robert Cave, who applauded the presence of CCIs at the NOBCChE. The NOBCChE 13th President, Dr. Emmanuel Waddell including the NOBCChE co-founder, Dr. William M. Jackson, (Howard University) passed by the CCI booth and had an opportunity to learn about the functions of the CCIs.

Participation at diversity conferences is one of the avenues the CCHF uses to broaden the involvement of underserved and underrepresented students/professionals in STEM. To further this mission of increasing participation, the Center this year initiated a CCHF Broadening Participation Fellowship, awarded to two CCHF scholars a year, to participate in one of the diversity conferences such as NOBCChE. As one participant articulately describes the NOBCChE conference, "Everyone is here to support you and your career aspirations."

Author: Lloyd Munjanja