Last Update: 04.24.02     

UC LEADS (Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees) at UCI is designed to identify educationally or economically disadvantaged undergraduates pursuing courses of study in sciences, mathematics, or engineering and who are also interested in attending graduate school. On March 1-3, 2002, the second annual 2002 UC LEADS Research and Leadership Symposium was held at UC Riverside. Annually, all UC LEADS Scholars from all nine University of California campuses are expected to participate in this university-wide three-day symposium. This year, over 130 scholars participated in the symposium and each scholar was given an opportunity to share his/her research findings through poster presentations. In addition, scholars also participated in workshop presentations on developing leadership skills, ethics in research, how to publish and to learn about diversity in science.

Throughout the symposium, scholars had the opportunity to meet graduate students, faculty mentors from all UC campuses, and UC alumni leaders to learn more about graduate programs and career opportunities in their related field of study. This year's keynote addresses were given by scientific and industrial leaders, Shirley Malcom, Ph.D., Director of the AAAS Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) Programs and Vince Alvarez, Ph.D., retired Vice President of Research and Development for the Clorox Company. Both individuals shared very positive and encouraging experiences for diverse students in sciences. For some UC LEADS scholars, it was their first time to meet and interact with other students in the program, but for everyone, the symposium was an opportunity to receive invaluable information and advice regarding graduate education. Next year, the third annual Research and Leadership Symposium will be hosted at UC San Diego. For those graduate students who helped mentor UCI UC LEADS scholars, THANKS!

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