As the Fall 2024 semester begins, undergraduate students at Yale are preparing for an engaging academic journey: a seminar course focusing on Asian Americans and STEM. Now in its third iteration since its inception in 2022, this pioneering course aims to transform our understanding of the intersection between Asian Americans and the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and medicine. At its heart, the course examines how historical patterns of migration, racial formation, and exclusion in the U.S. have influenced scientific practices and shaped our perceptions of Asian Americans in STEM.
Dr. Eun-Joo Ahn, a member of the Asian Americans and STEM initiative, is leading this iteration of the course as the primary instructor, as she did in the Fall 2023. This course was initially launched in Spring 2022 as a cross-disciplinary effort by Professor Mary Lui from History and American Studies, and Professor Reina Maruyama from Physics, with guest lectures by Professor Theodore Kim from Computer Science.
Throughout the semester, students will delve into scientific works produced by Asian Americans as well as historical research examining the interplay between STEM fields and Asian American history. Their studies will culminate in a term paper utilizing primary and secondary sources to explore the contributions of Asian American STEM practitioners. Featuring a range of modes of learning, including lectures, interactive discussions, guest speakers, laboratory tours, and in-depth research, the course will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the contributions and challenges Asian Americans have faced in STEM. Highlighted case studies will include the Guayule Project conducted by Japanese American scientists held at the Manzanar Incarceration Camp during World War II, and the groundbreaking work of experimental particle physicist Chien-Shiung Wu.