Diversity and Inclusion

The Tang Lab believes that diversity is critical to foster discovery and we actively engage activities relevant to diversity and inclusion. Professor Tang is the chair of cancer research community building committee, which sponsors activities to promote diversity and inclusion.

Tutoring Chicago Gift Distribution

The CCB Community Building/DEI committee, spearheaded by Sara Woessner, hosted our second annual community outreach event in collaboration with Tutoring Chicago. Tutoring Chicago is a non-profit organization that provides free, one-on-one tutoring for local K-12 students. Each student is asked to provide a letter listing “a want, a need, and a read” to ensure they receive something fun, something practical, and a book to enjoy during the holidays. On Saturday, December 14th, 2024, from 12 PM to 4 PM at 8560 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619, CCB students participated in various activities such as unloading gifts from the truck, setting up games and decorations, distributing the gifts, and hosting fun games for the children. CCB volunteers were Nia Hammond, Jocelyn Hsu, Mace Clare, and Mumina Sadullozoda (3rd year). Non-CCB UChicago volunteers were Emily Crawford (Booth Econ PhD candidate) and Kiersten Richardson (Economics Pre-doc.). More photos can be found here.

The Third Annual South Side Science Festival

CCB students joined the Third Annual South Side Science Festival, which took place at the Science Quads on October 5, 2024, from 11 am to 6 pm (link). The festival featured over 100 hands-on experiments and activities. The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center hosted several booths, one of which was sponsored by our CCB students. Our students brought Lego sets and used them to demonstrate the concepts of genetic alterations that occur in cancer cells. They used component swapping to show small-scale changes such as mutations, as well as larger-scale genetic swaps like chromosome translocation. The volunteers were Nia Hammond, Sara Woessner, Yuqing Xue, Kate Engel, Emily Schahrer, Elyse Schechter, Mace Clare, David Rodriguez, and Wei-Jen Tang. Non-CCB UChicago volunteers were Leah Ziolkowski and Alexandra Ware. More photos are available on this site.

2022 BSD Diversity and Incluson awardees

Diversity and Inclusion Engagement

We engage on diverse activities including community engagement, book club discussion, sharing D&I books, museum group visits, and BLACK-RX. Below are offices at The University of Chicago relevant to missions of diversity and inclusion.

U of Chicago Office of the Provost Diversity and Inclusion

U of Chicago BSD Diversity Committee

U of Chicago BSD diversity office

D&I Book Discussion

The Ben-May Department for Cancer Research and the Committee of Cancer Biology have been collaborating with the University of Chicago Biological Science Division Diversity Office and the University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center to organize various D&I-related book club discussions. We have also addressed current issues such as the rise of anti-Asian hatred during COVID-19 pandemic.

Discussion in gender inequality

Emily Schahrer, a CCB graduate student, organized a book club among graduate students and led an engaging discussion of “The Exceptions” written by Kate Zernike. The Exceptions centers on the life of Professor Nancy Hopkins who worked on gender inequality in science because of her personal circumstances at MIT. Her efforts at MIT eventually transformed the representation of women in STEM worldwide. Professor Nancy Hopkins received the 2024 Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences for her leadership role in this effort. Emily Schahrer organized four discussion session; the link for the pdf files used in these discussions is as follows: session 1, session 2, session3, session4. Professor Marsha Rosner provided valuable insight because of her personal experiences at MIT and her friendship with Nancy Hopkins. Professors Wei-Jen Tang and Marsha Rosner were the advisors for this DAship (winter quarter 2024).

Health Disparities in Chicago and US

We have used a book with the title “the Death Gap” written by David Ansell to guide our discussion of health disparities in Chicago and US. We have ordered and arranged the signed copies of the books to distribute. Nia Hammond, Maia Clare, and Nick Bayhi have organized a book club to discuss various issues on health disparties in Chicago and US in four sessions and the powerpoint presentations of these sessions are available below: session 1, session 2, session 3, and session 4. After these sessions, we have invited Dr. Ansell for the discussion and such discussion is recorded.

Anti-Asian Hate discussion

Due to the rise of anti-Asian hate in US, Ben-May faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduates had a robust discussion via zoom to discuss the climate of anti-Asian hate on campus and in Hyde Park neighborhood as well as the nationwide attitude toward the academic collaboration between US and China and the overall responses on National Science Foundation Jason report. Appropriate channels were reached out to address issues raised from this discussion. Ben-May Department had a follow-up meeting with University of Chicago officials to discuss the changes in practice on the collaboration with foreign academic units. (June 2021)

A Quantum Life Book Discussion

We adopted the recommendation by Marsha Rosner to use “A Quantum Life: my unlikely journey from the street to the stars” written by Hakeem Oluseyi. Marsha invited Robert Rosner to facilitate the discussion because Robert personally knows Hakeem and many faculty that mentioned in Hakeem’s book. Robert brought in the context from the perspectives of a theoretical astrophysicist as well as his personal experience about the challenges in his up-bringing in New York city. A robust discussion of the personal experiences from many faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students ensued. Wei-Jen Tang has recommended the book to DuSable museum for their book club discussion, which was adopted. A series of discussion with Hakeem Oluseyi also occurred subsequently (part 1, part 2, part 3, part4). (July 2021)

Book discussion of Breaking Through by Katalin Kariko

Leila Tuzlak, a Committee of Microbiology graduate student, organized a book club among graduate students and led an engaging discussion of “Breaking through: my life in science” written by Dr. Katalin Karikó. Graduate students or postdoctoral fellow including Baylee Heiden, Draco Xu, Sharon Zhou, Nazik Bolonduro, Haley Flink, Rebecca Gellman, Karl Tayeb, Marta Storl-Desmond, Jeri Beiter, Daniel Grzenda, Paola Gonzalaz, Sara Woessner, Christopher Greidanus, Annika Sharma, Reshmitha Madaka, Emily Schahrer, and Leah Ziolkowski have participated in a month-long book club discussion. The book “breaking through” is an inspiring memoir that delves into the life and career of Dr. Katalin Karikó, a pioneering scientist whose research laid the groundwork for mRNA-based vaccines, including those used in the fight against COVID-19. The book chronicles her journey from humble beginnings in Hungary to her groundbreaking work in the United States. It highlights the challenges she faced, her persistence in the face of skepticism, and her unwavering belief in the potential of mRNA technology. Dr. Karikó’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of scientific advancement. The video recording of zoom interview with Dr. Karikó can be found in this link. Professors Wei-Jen Tang and Marsha Rosner were the advisors for this DAship (winter quarter 2025).

GCIS W424 shared D&I book library

Maintain by honor system. Please sign out the book using the sign-up book in the library and the card inside the book when you check out the book. You should return it as soon as you finish, preferrably in three weeks. You may share your thought about the book by writing on the card inside the book.

Three Girls From Bronzeville

Recommended by Marsha, which is an excellent book from the local author to provide the rich history of south side Chicago. The author describes the joy and struggles from the lens of her life. Highly recommended. Wei-Jen

Caste

Compelling narratives on the birth and continuing transformation of US caste system that impacts everyday life of Americans. Wei-Jen

Warmth of Other Suns

Donated by Geoffrey Greene

The New Jim Crow

Race and Racism

A textbook about Race and Racisms (reserve see Wei-Jen Tang to borrow)

Savage Inequalities

This book describes the reality and challenges in the school system in several cities in US.

America for Americans

Excellent book to learn how race throughout US history shapes the interactions among different ethnic groups and is continuing to do so. Wei-Jen

Hillbilly Elegy

Emperor of All Maladies

Excellent cancer biology book with the historic perspectives on disparities of cancer treatment.

Cruasade For Justice

How We Do Harm

As cancer doctor, Otis vividly describes the challenges of American healthcare system for cancer patients.

A Quantum Life

Chosen as 2021 BMICR DEI discussion to promote the discussion about growing up in the challenging neighborhood and navigating through the challenging academic environment.

Story of Last Black Cargo

The Death Gap

Excellent book to discuss health disparities in Chicago. Chosen for 2022 DEI book discussion.

The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois

The immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Exceptions

Recommended by Dr. Marsha Rosner, the book follows the research careeer of Nancy Hopkins, which highlights the evolution of US biomedical research toward the contribution and treatment of female scientists, how far we have changes toward equity and inclusion, and how much we still have to improve.

Lessons in Chemistry

Recommended by Marsha Rosner.

The Patriarchs: the origins of inequality

Recommended by Wei-Jen Tang after listening to the audiobook version. He heard about this book via my listening to science podcast (https://www.science.org/content/podcast/visiting-utopias-fighting-heat-death-and-making-mysterious-dark-earth) where Angela Saini discusses everyday utopia: in praise of radical alternatives to the traditional family home. The reviews of this book in general are quite positive by saying that she laid out the fact in general, instead of cherry-picking the findings to fit her agenda.

Invisible Women

This book offers compelling case for the gender data gap and impact of such gap broadly.

D&I book library

We’ve created a shared library of D&I-focused book resources (located at GCIS W424) and continue to add books to this book nook. Please borrow them but make sure to return the book when you are done so that others can enjoy. While there is no hard time-limit to keep the book, the general rule is to keep it only up to one month. You may share your thought in the card included inside the back of the book if you like. Donation is encouraged and please reach out to Wei-Jen Tang when you add them to the library. Donors are encouraged to include a blurb about what they appreciated about these books. We’re always looking for suggestions what to add.

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Museum Visit Events

The subcommittee of cancer research community building in C0mmittee of Cancer Biology has organized several cultural appreciation events. These typically include a guided museum tour showcasing the stories of underrepresented communities in science, a cultural event, and delicious food!

Illinois Holocaust Museum Visit

Faculty, administrators, students, and postdoctoral fellows visited Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center to have a guided tour (February 25, 2023). The highlights of the event include Docent-guided tour of Karkomi Holocaust Exhibition, Negro Motorist Green Book, Lunch with food from Kaukman’s, and Abe & Ida Cooper Survivor stories (a 3D hologram tour). We have received postive and constructive feedback.

Polish Museum of American Visit

The event started with a guided tour for the Polish Museum of American and then followed by enjoyingPolish food at Taste of Polonia (Sep 03, 2022)

Chinese American Museum of Chicago visit

The event includes a guided tour of Chinese American Museum of Chicago, dim sum lunch at Minghin Cuisine, and the observatoin of the Dragon Boat Race for Literacy (Jun 25, 2022). Feedback survey for 2021-2022 activity can be found here.

National Museum of Mexican Art Visit

The event started with a tour in National Museum of Mexican Art and their “Día de los Muertos Xicágo” celebrations outside the museum, followed by walked around Pilsen neighborhood and tacos in a community garden (Oct 30, 2021). Feedback survey for 2021-2022 activity can be found here.

DuSable Museum visit

Faculty of Ben May Department for Cancer Research, Committee of Cancer Biology, and Comprehensive Cancer Center, post-docs, graduate students, undergraduates engaged inaugural DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center visit (Aug 24, 2021). We had robust discussion on various collaborative projects. A few discussion topics were outlined and a series of collaborations have ensued. The event has led multiple BSD-wide interactions with DuSable Museum. A few examples are listed below:

Black RX to discuss various health-related discussion that Black community is interested
Annual DuSable museum visit of incoming graduate students sponsored by OPGA.

Feedback survey for 2021-2022 activity can be found here.

BlackRx: What is cancer?

Understanding what cancer is, is critical to understanding how it affects our community.

Watch the Video

BlackRx: Black Women and Cancer

Discussion focused on how cancer impacts black women, specifically.

Watch the Video

BlackRx: Black Men and Cancer

Discussion focused on how cancer impacts black men, specifically.

Watch the Video

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BlackRx Conversation Series

BlackRx is an ongoing series of recorded conversations between DuSable Black History Museum representatives and cancer experts in the UChicago Medical community, aimed at understanding the disparate impact that cancer has on black communities.