The Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in STEM is hosted AAAS and funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Human Resource Development (HRD). The 2-1/2 day conference aims to help undergraduate and graduate students, particularly underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities, enhance their science communication skills and better understand how to prepare for science careers in a global workforce. Since 2011, over 6,570 or an annual average of 938 students, faculty, exhibitors, judges, and speakers have participated in the ERN Conference. Additionally, over 2,030 students received conference travel awards. College and university students from all STEM fields gave over 3,700 oral and poster presentations. Each year, an average of 80% of the attendees are underrepresented minority students in STEM and 57% are female. From 2011 – 2017, the number of institutions participating in the ERN Conference increased from 163 to 274 or 68%, including 50 HBCUs participating in 2017. Students on average rated activities, such as preparing abstracts and presentations and building science communication skills, very high. Moreover, students on average, reported that the plenary speakers, exhibits and workshops on education funding, preparing for graduate school, finding internships, and employment were very beneficial. Online conference follow-up surveys completed in 2015 and 2016 by a few of the student attendees from 2012 to 2016 indicated that the conference helped them in several ways -- on average 51% of respondents revised their career path, 47% applied to a student research program, 45% submitted an abstract for another conference, and 42% received help with applying to graduate school. These data indicate that the ERN conference has not only made a positive impact on students, but can serve as a model for best practices in broadening participation in STEM.

Impact of a national student research conference in STEM: Preparing tomorrow’s global workforce

256th National Meeting (2018)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.