Archives: Monthly Archives: December 2024

UConn CEE Faculty and Students Advocate for Embracing Neurodiversity in STEM

Image depicting Connie Syharat and Dr. Arash Zaghi, the Include UConn logo depicting a rainbow infinity sign, and text that reads: UConn CEE Faculty and Students Advocate for Embracing Neurodiversity in STEM. Dr. Arash Zaghi and Ph.D. student Connie Syharat have been featured in Chemical & Engineering News for their advocacy for neurodiversity in STEM!

The School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is proud to highlight the important work of Dr. Arash Zaghi, professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Ph.D. student Connie Syharat, who are advocating for a more inclusive and innovative STEM environment by embracing neurodiversity.

Dr. Zaghi, featured in Chemical & Engineering News, has been at the forefront of research exploring how traditional STEM systems often overlook the unique strengths of neurodiverse individuals, such as enhanced creativity, pattern recognition, and rapid problem-solving. His work challenges the status quo, encouraging educators and researchers to rethink how STEM fields value and support neurodiverse perspectives. Working alongside Dr. Zaghi, Connie Syharat – a Ph.D. student and research assistant – their efforts emphasize how fostering inclusive environments benefits not only neurodiverse individuals but the broader engineering community.

As part of these efforts, the UConn CEE Include program is aimed at transforming the department through inclusive teaching practices and leveraging the unique strengths of neurodiverse students to contribute to engineering breakthroughs. The Include program fosters a supportive and welcoming community that drives progress in research, education, and innovation.

Join the Neurodiversity in Engineering community and learn more about the Include program here: https://neurodiversity.engineering.uconn.edu/

Read the full article here: https://cen.acs.org/careers/diversity/challenge-being-neurodivergent-STEM/102/i39

UConn’s College of Engineering Now Offering a Ph.D. in Engineering Education

Flyer with navy background, titled "UConn Launches New Engineering Education Ph.D. Program." Text on flyer reads "UConn’s College of Engineering is breaking ground with the new Ph.D. in Engineering Education!" Photo on flyer is the first class of students. Pictured third from right, Desen Özkan, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, gathers with her Foundations in Engineering Education Research students on their final day of class, Dec. 4.

The College of Engineering has launched an innovative Ph.D. in Engineering Education program, focusing on the intersections between engineering and social sciences. This interdisciplinary program prepares graduates to foster inclusivity, accessibility, and creative teaching in engineering education.

Students like Connie Syharat and Mikayla Friday are among those working to advance neurodiversity and innovative pedagogical methods, while exploring ways to make engineering education more equitable and accessible for all learners. The program also includes NSF-funded initiatives like the Include Project and IGE Project aimed at transforming engineering education culture.

For more details, visit the Engineering Education Ph.D. Program webpage.

Congratulations to UConn Students on CMAA Scholarships!

We are thrilled to announce that UConn students Paul Roberts, Jenna DePonte, Aryanna Fontanez, and Meshach Ojo received scholarships from the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) at the Scholarship and Awards Banquet on November 21, 2024.

Out of many impressive applicants, these students stood out as part of the top 10 selected for this prestigious award. Notably, Paul Roberts and Aryanna Fontanez are second-time recipients, showcasing their continued excellence in the field.

The CMAA Connecticut Chapter Scholarship supports students pursuing degrees in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related fields, reflecting CMAA’s mission to advance construction management excellence and foster qualified professionals for capital projects.

Join us in congratulating these outstanding students on their well-deserved achievements!

CEE Faculty and EPA Partner to Launch Environmental Justice Community Center

The University of Connecticut is excited to announce the establishment of the Environmental Justice Thriving Community Technical Assistance Center (EJ-TCTAC), a collaborative initiative funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EJ-TCTAC is led by Dr. Carolyn Lin (Department of Communication), with a dedicated team including Dr. Davis Chacon Hurtado (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering & Human Rights Institute), Dr. Diego Cerrai (School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Eversource Energy Center), Dr. Rupal Parekh (School of Social Work), and Chris Newell (Director of Native American Cultural Programs). Special recognition is also given to Marisa Chrysochoou, the initial investigator, whose foundational work has greatly contributed to this initiative.

They provide free, tailored support to municipalities, state and tribal governments, non-profits, and regional agencies in addressing environmental justice and energy equity challenges. Their services focus on fostering sustainable practices, community development, and economic growth through the following:

  • Custom Support: Assisting with nonprofit establishment, grant identification, project budgeting, coalition-building, and navigating government systems like Grants.gov and SAM.gov.
  • Training: Delivering customized virtual or in-person sessions on grant applications, environmental justice principles, project design, and community needs assessments, along with resource hub creation and one-on-one consultations.
  • Needs Assessments: Offering SWOT analyses, stakeholder mapping, strategic planning, collaboration roadmaps, and data collection to support environmental and public health initiatives.

This center aims to enhance environmental justice efforts across New England, providing vital support and resources to communities as they address environmental and social challenges.

For more information, visit their website at environmental-justice.program.uconn.edu.

Congratulations to the entire team on this significant step toward promoting environmental justice and community resilience across the region!