Friday, May 22, 1998
Catalyst program fosters
student-teacher interaction
Participants explore gender issues in science, discuss career,
research plans with faculty
By Chauntelle Anne Tibbals
Daily Bruin Contributor
Jennifer Famulare was indecisive about her career in
microbiology.
"I had difficulties finding a research project along the lines
of my future goals," said Famulare, a third-year microbiology and
molecular genetics student.
But through the Catalyst Mentorship Program (CMP), she was able
to conclude that a career in microbiology research was right for
her.
The program celebrated the completion of its pilot year with a
reception Wednesday.
Founded by the Women’s Resource Center, Catalyst serves to match
science-related UCLA faculty members with graduate and
undergraduate students that have similar career and research
interests.
The program is based on three goals – mentoring on education and
careers, exploration of gender issues in science, and student
research projects.
"This program has a real commitment to creating strong links
between students and faculty members," said Kathy Rose-Mockry,
director of the Women’s Resource Center and co-founder of the
CMP.
Through these links, students are advised and directed in order
to keep them focused in the sciences.
"Everything (associated with a scientific future) is so much
easier when you know you have someone to talk to," said Kristie
Kum-ja Yoo, a fifth-year physiological science student and student
coordinator of the CMP.
As a result, Catalyst has tried to enable many students to
explore their prospective scientific career goals on a level they
may not have been able to attain otherwise.
The reception, attended by participating faculty members and
students, allowed participants to express their own Catalyst
experiences similar to Famulare’s.
The CMP was originally designed to address difficulties faced by
women in science, such as a woman’s lower tendency than a man to
obtain a scientific degree.
With the passage of Proposition 209, the program directors had
to revise Catalyst to include men.
"The group could not be devoted only to women. It is now based
on gender issues," said Judith Smith, vice provost of undergraduate
education and professor of physiological sciences. Smith assisted
the CMP with funding, facilitating the program’s beginning.
Although the founders of the program realized it was absolutely
necessary to alter its scope, some students had misgivings.
"Changing our focus to ‘gender- based issues’ seemed to devalue
the program," Yoo said.
She said she felt it was imperative to address the oppression
women face in science. But the program now attempts to address
general gender issues that are important to both women and men who
want to pursue scientific careers.
With its revised structure, the CMP has also been able to
address and broaden men’s perspectives of gender-based issues in
science.
"The potential for more dynamic student-teacher dialogue was
what initially attracted me to the program," said Adrian
Soldatenko, the only male undergraduate student involved in
Catalyst this year.
Through his involvement, he has found that there are various
issues facing future scientists that do not necessarily have to do
with science. The CMP helps students address these issues.
"(The Catalyst Mentorship Program) can serve to teach men that
our system has been one of intolerance toward women and people of
color," said Soldatenko, a third-year physics and physiological
sciences student.
Based on the success of the pilot program, more students will be
able to learn and benefit from Catalyst next year.
The CMP will restart in a similar manner this fall. It will
remain small in order to stay focused and retain its personal
qualities and interactions.
"(Next year’s) structure will be basically the same, although we
now have the opportunity to expand a little and offer some
additional services," Rose-Mockry said, including a web link to
UCLA research sites. This will make information about the program
more accessible to potential participants.
Though the Catalyst Mentorship Program will remain small,
founders hope it will continue to have a large impact on the lives
of students involved.
"I am so excited about the future of this program," Rose-Mockry
said. "It is something we have talked and thought about for a long
time, knowing there was a great need."
For more information about the Catalyst Mentorship Program,
contact the Women’s Resource Center at (310) 825-3945.