STEM fields often promote “objective” pedagogies (e.g., colorblindness) and often avoid discussion around diversity, equity, and inclusion. This is unfortunate because underrepresentation and marginalization is often accentuated in STEM fields. I seek to change this attitude in my own classroom by encouraging these difficult discussions and teaching how mathematics can be a tool for social justice. This talk will be about my first foray into this venture. In an upper-level course last fall, I had each student give a short presentation on the life, struggles, and accomplishments of an influential mathematician from history with an underrepresented identity. Since the class took place remotely due to the ongoing pandemic, I challenged the students by prohibiting slideshows. The results were extremely creative!
