Outreach | Hirsch Lab

In the Hirsch lab, we recognize that diversity, equity, and inclusion are vital to advancing scientific inquiry and innovation, and enriching the educational experience of all participants. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and equitable space where diverse voices contribute to the advancement of knowledge. Our commitment to DEI shapes not only our research environment, but also the impact we have on the broader community.

Summer Internship Program with Macalester College

We have been partnering with Macalester College, a primarily undergraduate serving institution in St Paul, since 2017 to host female identifying Macalester students interested in exploring research opportunities in plant genetics, genomics, and agriculture. This internship program has been made possible through continued funding by the National Science Foundation.

Summer Internship Program with the YWCA

The Girls Inc. Eureka! Program is a five year summer and school year program for girls interested in STEM fields. This program ‘builds sisterhood with girls from all over the Twin Cities to explore their career interests and dreams by supporting them through high school graduation and preparing them for the next steps in their post-secondary education’. We provided authentic research experiences to female identifying high school interns through this program.

Gopher Girls in STEM

This two day camp for high school girls was an opportunity to get hands on experience in agriculture, ranging from measuring corn plants, preparing animal diets, and converting plant material into alternative use polymers.

Artemisia Leadership Initiative

Members of our group were involved in founding the Artemisia Leadership Initiative. The purpose of this initiative is to inspire and empower female scientists and strengthen overall capacity to respond to future challenges in food, agriculture and natural resources by addressing gender-based barriers and improving leadership skills. This initiative has a three pronged approach to meet this goal including monthly seminars that provide an opportunity to listen to and engage with speakers who share their personal journeys and thoughts on how they achieved success, facilitated peer mentoring circles that enable participants to have in-depth discussions on topics that are of particular relevance to the groups that are formed with individuals in similar career stages or shared identities, and professional development workshops to help develop skills and address needs to truly empower and support women in their current and future roles.