Get Involved / Upcoming Events
Throughout the year, we will host opportunities to connect with members of the community through social and networking events, in addition to various lectures, seminars, symposia, and workshops on a range of DEIJ issues. We welcome you to explore the range of programs and events listed below.
If you are looking for volunteering opportunities, please click here.
Ongoing Activities
Community of Practice
The Spring 2024 Community of Practice meeting schedule is as follows:
First Meetings
Cohort A: Tuesday October 15, 2024 from 4-5 PM
Cohort B: Friday, October 18, 2024 from 12:30-1:30 PM
Second Meetings
Cohort A: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 4-5 PM
Cohort B: Friday, December 5, 2024 from 12:30-1:30 PM
To participate, please contact DEIJ Officer Farrah Belizaire: Farrahab@mit.edu.
More abut the Community of Practice:
Our Community of Practice is a group of Building 46 affiliates (graduate students, postdocs, faculty & staff) who meet twice a semester to share best practices, learn from each other, build peer-to-peer accountability, problem solve, innovate, test out ideas and strategies, and identify consistent DEIJ themes across the building.
In addition to the bi-semester meeting schedule, the group also convenes for informal networking lunches throughout the semester as well as three working groups fcoused on the following strategic aims:
Community-building initiatives (Nancy Kanwisher and Elise Malvicini)
K-12 outreach (Ted Gibson and Ed Boyden)
Postdoc to faculty pipeline (Ila Fiete and Steve Flavell)
DEIJ Working Groups
Postdoc to Faculty Pipeline
Led by Ila Fiete & Steve Flavell
This working group is focused on identifying opportunities to provide early exposure and mentorship to postdoctoral researchers from groups historically underrepresented in the brain and cognitive sciences, and to support the transition to a career in academia. A key initiative of this committee has been the establishment of a "Rising Stars Seminar" which began in the Fall of 2022. Each semester, the Rising Stars Award will recognize postdoctoral candidates of exceptional scientific merit and highlights the importance of diversity and broad representation in the brain and cognitive sciences.
From L-R: Faculty member Steve Flavell, Fall 2022 Rising Star Recipient Biafra Ahananou, Faculty member Ila Fiete
From L-R: Faculty member Steve Flavell, Spring 2023 Rising Star Recipient Bruna Paulson, Faculty member Ila Fiete, Associate Dept. Head Laura Schulz
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 16, 2024 at 4:00 PM
AMPLIFY Buildikng 46: Gender Identity & Inclusion in the Workplace
In honor of International Pronouns Day, join us for an interactive discussion on ways we can work together as a community to create a culture of inclusion that is supportive to members across gender identities.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 24, 2024
Rising Stars Seminar featuring Postdoctoral Researchers Caroline Nettekoven and Seetha Krishnan
Details:
Thursday, October 24, 2024, 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Singleton Auditorium and on Zoom
Followed by a reception with food and beverages.
The Rising Stars Award in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) is awarded to 2 postdoctoral scholars per year. Recipients are awarded based on their outstanding research accomplishments and their extraordinary potential to succeed as independent research faculty. This award also aims to enhance diversity and representation in the brain and cognitive sciences. Awardees receive a cash prize and are invited to present their research in the BCS Colloquium Series.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024
Connect to Community Brunch, 11-12:30 PM, BCS Grad Lounge
Join DEIJ for an informal brunch social. Take a break from the lab, grab some brunch bites and reconnect with some of your fellow grad students. Brunch will be provided by Café Luna.