Disrupting Normativity: A Critical Examination and Reconstruction Towards a Structurally Inclusive STEM Curricula/Culture

In this presentation and discussion, Dr. Ebony O. McGee will examine how traditional STEM education has been shaped by racial exclusion, Eurocentric ideologies, and systemic barriers, creating an inhospitable environment for historically-marginalized students. She will introduce an innovative STEM curriculum that centers the racial identities and lived experiences of historically excluded students while integrating pressing social issues into STEM learning. This approach moves beyond a monocultural lens, which often inadvertently buttresses systemic barriers, towards a more culturally responsive, socially conscious educational model that fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and real-world application. By reshaping STEM instruction to be inclusive and equity-driven, this framework empowers students to use STEM as a tool for meaningful change.