Events
Upcoming Events
Spring 2025
Are Electric Vehicles Driving Sustainability? Unpacking the Environmental Trade-Off of the EV Revolution
March 25 | 4:30 - 6:30 pm | LL2.224 | Audience: Open to all SEAS
The 2025 Dean’s Dialogue Panel will explore the sustainability of electric vehicles (EVs) by discussing their environmental costs and benefits. Across the world, policymakers and car manufacturers are championing EVs as a critical solution to reducing oil consumption and combating climate change. But are EVs truly as eco-friendly as they claim to be? This panel will delve into the complex realities of EV sustainability, examining the environmental impacts of electricity production, the extraction of raw materials, and the recyclability of EV components. By presenting opposing viewpoints, the discussion aims to illuminate the nuances of this critical issue and inspire a deeper understanding of EVs' role in shaping an equitable and sustainable future.
Iftar Dinner
March 26 | 7 - 9 pm | SEC first floor | Audience: Open to all SEAS | Register Here
The registration form for this event is university-wide, so please select the SEAS date to register for this event.
The Dual Edge of Technology: Equity and Sustainability in AI Usage
March 27 | Zoom Panel 10:30 - 11:30 am & Lunch 12:00 - 1 pm | SEC West Atrium | Open to all SEAS | Register Here
Join us for an engaging panel discussion in partnership with HUIT where we will explore the complex intersections of artificial intelligence, environmental sustainability, and social equity. The conversation will cover how AI operates, including its resource demands and broader societal impacts. We’ll also examine the current policy landscape, highlighting gaps and opportunities, and discuss actionable strategies to guide AI usage in more equitable and sustainable ways.
BRIDGE Week
April 7 - 11 | Open to all SEAS
BRIDGE Week is an annual event to recognize the importance of diversity in STEM, discuss current challenges, and learn how to foster a safe and welcoming STEM environment for all backgrounds and identities. This initiative started 2018 as a collaboration between the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. The BRIDGE Banquet is the cornerstone event of the week. Student leaders select a SEAS alum that has made an impact on society and paved the way for future generations of engineers.
Diversity as Driver of Innovation: HBS Conversation
April | Open to all SEAS
EDIB Academy
Open to all SEAS | Register Here
The EDIB Academy was created to increase cultural competency among Harvard employees and foster a community of engagement around inclusion and belonging. These live virtual workshops emphasize foundational EDIB concepts with an emphasis on reflection and understanding.
Embracing Neurodiversity - A Training by The MIND Project
January 22 | 11 am - 12 pm | Zoom | Audience: SEAS Staff | Register Here
HUIT and SEAS, in collaboration with The MIND Project, are proud to present a neurodiversity training session. Neurodiversity recognizes the wide range of ways people perceive, think about, and interact with the world around them. This concept encompasses all individuals whose cognitive processing diverges from what is considered typical. At Harvard, we strive for inclusive excellence. Given that we work alongside neurodivergent staff, students, and faculty, it is essential to cultivate an understanding of their unique perspectives and needs, reduce barriers, and build an environment that enables them to thrive. This training session will equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to better understand neurodivergent individuals and foster an inclusive, supportive environment for all.
Inclusive Pedagogy
February 3 | 3 - 4:30 pm | MD G115 | Audience: TFs and CAs
Inclusive pedagogy is a student-centered teaching approach that finds strength in student differences and emphasizes creating an equitable, inviting, and engaging environment. The goal of this training is to help teaching fellows (TFs) and course assistants (CAs) critically examine how their teaching engages a diverse group of students and apply strategies that cultivate equity and belonging in learning environments.
Beyond the Glass Ceiling: Women Belonging and Thriving in the Academy
February 11 | 3:30 - 5 pm | LL2.223 | Open to all
Despite progress toward gender equity, women remain underrepresented in many STEM fields, facing challenges like structural inequalities, societal biases, and limited leadership opportunities. Harvard events like the Women Engineers Code (WECode) conference underscore the importance of creating inclusive spaces where women in STEM can build community and feel supported. This panel discussion features women in the academy who will share their journeys of overcoming barriers, excelling in academia, and inspiring future generations. Preceded by a networking event open to all Harvard schools, this session offers a valuable opportunity to connect, collaborate, and champion gender equity in STEM and beyond.
Combatting Antisemitism with Nancy Koppelman
February 25 | 12 am - 1:30 pm | SEC 2.122 and 2.123 | Open to all SEAS | Register Here
The Office for Diversity Inclusion and Belonging at SEAS invites you to participate in our workshop aimed at addressing antisemitism as part of our community learning goal for the year. We are bringing in Dr. Nancy Koppelman from the Academic Engagement Network to share a history of antisemitism from its origins to today. This workshop offers an introductory exploration of antisemitism, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to create inclusive environments. This engaging and informative workshop is essential for individuals committed to promoting equity and understanding in their communities.
Combatting Islamophobia with Khalil Abdur-Rashid
February 27 | 12 pm - 1:30 pm | SEC 3.301 and 3.302 | Open to all SEAS | Register Here
The Office for Diversity Inclusion and Belonging at SEAS invites you to participate in our workshop aimed at addressing Islamophobia as part of our community learning goal for the year. We are excited to welcome Imam Dr. Khalil Abdur-Rashid, the Muslim Chaplain at Harvard, to facilitate this discussion on ways we can combat Islamophobia. This workshop offers an introductory exploration of anti-Muslim bias, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to create inclusive environments. This engaging and informative workshop is essential for individuals committed to promoting equity and understanding in their communities.
Signature Events
Building Relationships, Increasing Diversity, and Growing Engineers
BRIDGE Week is an annual event to recognize the importance of diversity in STEM, discuss current challenges, and learn how to foster a safe and welcoming STEM environment for all backgrounds and identities. This initiative started 2018 as a collaboration between the National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. The BRIDGE Banquet is the cornerstone event of the week. Student leaders select a SEAS alum that has made an impact on society and paved the way for future generations of engineers. To submit ideas for future BRIDGE Week events or honorees, contact diversity@seas.harvard.edu.
The Ivy Collective for Inclusion in Engineering Doctoral Symposium is a place for doctoral students in engineering to benefit from the rich exchange of personal experiences aimed at propelling the future of engineering towards greater inclusion.
The symposium features panels and presentations curated for Ph.D. students progressing towards degree completion as well as those seeking insights for careers in engineering.
This event is open to all Post-baccalaureate and PhD students in engineering, computer science, and applied sciences at event-affiliated institutions: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, UPenn, Princeton, and Yale.
Beyond Western Approaches: Recognizing Indigenous Traditions in Engineering
Harvard SEAS Office for Diversity Inclusion and Belonging invites you to join us for the symposium Beyond Western Approaches: Recognizing Indigenous Traditions in Engineering. The symposium invites us to expand the canon in STEM by exploring how Indigenous communities contribute to creating knowledge in engineering and applied sciences through new data, novel solutions, and culturally embedded frameworks for research design, interpretation, and application.
Past Events
Fall 2023
Inclusive Pedagogy Session for TFs and CAs
August 29 | 11 am - 12:30 pm | SEC
In this session, we will critically examine how your teaching engages a diversity of students, and apply strategies for cultivating equity and belonging in learning environments. This session is intended for CA's and TFs with appointments at SEAS in Applied Math, BioE, EE, ESE, MechE, ES.
Inclusive Pedagogy Session for TFs and CAs
September 18 | 4 - 5:30 pm | Zoom
In this session, we will critically examine how your teaching engages a diversity of students, and apply strategies for cultivating equity and belonging in learning environments. This session is intended for CA's and TFs with appointments at SEAS in Applied Math, BioE, EE, ESE, MechE, ES.
Virtual Area Networking Event: Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering
October 11 | 5:30 - 7 pm | Zoom
Accessibility by Design: A Teach-in on Disability for the SEAS Community
Luncheon Keynote with Dr. Rory Cooper
October 19 | 11:45 am – 1 pm | In-person and Zoom
Accessibility by Design: A Teach-in on Disability for the SEAS Community is a two-day event series designed to support our community learning goal of Exploring Universal Design for Accessibility and Inclusion. Through these opportunities, SEAS community members can share in experiences that support growth around Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution Screening by UDR
October 19 | 5:30 – 8 pm | In-person and Zoom
Disability Inclusion Training by UDR
October 20 | 10 – 11 am | Zoom
According to the most recent census report, approximately 56 million (1 in 5) Americans has a disability. This session will provide a foundation of information for inclusion of individuals with disabilities at Harvard.
University Disability Resources staff will discuss common barriers, such as environmental and unconscious bias, that individuals with disabilities often encounter. We will cover basic etiquette as well as detailed information that apply to people with various visible and invisible disabilities. An introduction to best practices for language usage, digital accessibility and hosting accessible events will be presented.
Participants of this training will apply key concepts to their work with individuals with disabilities and will be taking an actionable step that indicates cultural awareness.
DIB Fellows’ Disability Access Tabling
October 20 | 12-2 pm | Maxwell Dworkin Lobby and SEC Lobby
Global Community Training for Returning Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Students
October 24 | 12:30 - 1:30 pm | In-person
This session is designed to provide an introduction to and vocabulary around topics related to race and gender for all SEAS graduate students, including those long established in the U.S., as well as our thriving international student community. Students are exposed to research and engage in discussions about the role race and gender play in America and within STEM fields.
[Open to returning SEAS graduate and Post-baccalaureate students]
Ivy Collective for Inclusivity: Launching and Pursuing Your Academic Job Search
November 2 | 5:00 - 6:30 pm | Zoom
The event explores navigating the academic search process through panel discussions with diverse early- and mid-career faculty focused on launching and pursuing successful search and breakout sessions with senior graduate students to support peer-to-peer dialog. Its goal is to uncover the hidden curriculum of searching for academic jobs. Attendees will engage with graduate students and faculty at other Ivy institutions.
[Open to current SEAS Ph.D. Students]
Spring 2023
Campus Climate Data Walk
February 6 | 5:30 pm | Boylston Hall, Ticknor Lounge (Cambridge)
Participants will engage in a Data Walk as we creatively engage key findings from 2022's DIB campus climate survey. Dinner will be provided.
Lunch Break Seminar Series: Evelyn Hu
February 8 | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | SEC 2.122
Speakers at this series will not only share their own exciting research, but also their story about how they grew interested in pursuing science. Evelyn Hu is the Torr-Coyne Professor of Applied Sciences and Electrical Engineering at SEAS and a co-director of the Harvard Quantum Initiative. Her research involves the study of nanoscale photonic devices demonstrating exceptional efficiencies, which hold promise for new quantum information technologies. Lunch from Dumpling House will be provided to the first 25 registrants.
SEAS Affinity Group Luncheon
February 17 | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm | SEC 6.301 & 6.302
The purpose of this luncheon is to create a space for students leaders to meet the leaders of other student clubs on campus and to meet the team from the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. This will be an opportunity to learn how the DIB Office can support each club's members and events, as well as a chance to form relationships with other student leaders for the purpose of cross-club collaboration on future events.
Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Facilitated Conversation
Postponed from Feb. 17 | New Date TBD
Participants will explore ethical dilemmas raised by the legacy of slavery at Harvard and reflect on the University’s and on their own roles and responsibilities in teaching or learning about this legacy.
SEAS Graduate School Open House: Pre-Event Dinner
March 2 | 6 - 8 pm
SEAS Graduate School Open House: DIB Presentation
March 3 | 9 - 11 am
SEAS Graduate School Open House: DIB Office Hours
March 3 | 3:30 - 4:30 pm | Maxwell-Dworkin 133 | SEC 1.304
Want to know more about Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at SEAS? Stop by to meet the DIB Office in either Maxwell-Dworkin (Cambridge) or the SEC (Allston).
Lunch Break Seminar Series: Markita Landry
March 8 | 11 - 12:30 pm | SEC 4.307 & SEC 4.308
Speakers at this series will not only share their own exciting research, but also their story about how they grew interested in pursuing science. Markita Landry is an associate professor in the department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UC Berkeley. She received her PhD in Chemical Physics and a certificate in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign and completed a NSF postdoctoral fellowship in Chemical Engineering at MIT.
DIB Fellows Study Break
March 8 | 7:30 - 9:00 pm | Ticknor Lounge
Drop in and join our DIB Fellows for light refreshments and games before Spring Break!
Lunch Break Seminar Series: Latha Venkataraman
March 22 | 11:00 am - 12:15 pm | MD 119
The SEAS DIB Office is excited to announce this week's Lunch Break Seminar! Invited speakers will share their personal background in how they grew interested in pursuing science, followed by discussing exciting research being conducted in their labs. Following each seminar is a catered lunch with foods from the speaker's cuisine of choice.
Dr. Latha Venkataraman from the department of Applied Physics at Columbia University. Her lab specializes in fabricating and studying single molecule circuits.
BRIDGE Week
April 3 - 7
BRIDGE Week Additional Details
BRIDGE Week: Alumni Panel
April 3 | 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Maxwell-Dworkin G125
Join SEAS alumni in this panel about their experiences at Harvard and beyond. Learn from our panelists about their champions and the communities that helped them thrive. Leave with take-aways for your academic and professional careers.
BRIDGE Week: Thesis Celebration
April 4 | 2:30 - 4:30 pm | Maxwell-Dworkin 119
SEAS Seniors will introduce their thesis research topics and the value of thesis writing. Topics include Resources for Research and Writing; a Thesis-Hack-a-Thon; and a Group-Share-Out.
Lunch Break Seminar Series: Bogdan Dragnea
April 5 | 11:00 am - 12:30 pm | SEC 2.122
The SEAS DIB Office is excited to announce this week's Lunch Break Seminar! Invited speakers will share their personal background in how they grew interested in pursuing science, followed by discussing exciting research being conducted in their labs. Following each seminar is a catered lunch with foods from the speaker's cuisine of choice.
Bogdan Dragnea earned his Diploma in Physics from University of Bucharest in 1992. A Ph.D. scholarship from the French government allowed him to join the laser-matter interactions Physics graduate program at the University of Paris at Orsay. After a postdoc in near-field optics and spectroscopy with Steve Leone at JILA in Boulder, he joined the Chemistry Department at Indiana University Bloomington, in 2001.
BRIDGE Week: Banquet Dinner
April 5 | 6 - 8 pm | SEC 1.402
Please join us for the BRIDGE Week Banquet Dinner to celebrate the SEAS community's work in improving access and inclusion in engineering.
BRIDGE Week: Student Affinity Group Mixer
April 6 | 6 - 8 pm | SEC LL2 Atrium
Celebrate the end of Bridge Week and your accomplishments this academic year with your peers. Music, food, and conversation.
BRIDGE Week: "Coded Bias" Screening & Discussion
April 7 | 12 - 3pm | SEC 1.321
Released in January, 2020, Coded Bias, explores the fallout of MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini's discovery of racial bias in facial recognition algorithms. In this forum, Dr. Buolamwini interrogates biased algorithms, surveillance, and machine learning with DIB Fellow Chepchumba Choge and Edward Alexander.
Ph.D. Focus Group: Campus Climate Survey
April 21 | 3 - 4 pm | Zoom
ODIB is hosting a focus group for Ph.D. students to give honest and constructive feedback on the SEAS experience as a graduate student. The focus group will be moderated by two of the DIB Fellows who are also currently enrolled as Ph.D. students.
Harvard University welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact diversity@seas.harvard.edu in advance of your participation or visit. Requests for American Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance, if possible. Please note that the University will make every effort to secure services, but these services are subject to availability.