University of Washington Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar

Professor Karen Fleming

Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University

UW PBK advocates for excellence in the liberal arts and is honored to host Professor Karen Fleming, Professor of Biophysics at Johns Hopkins University, for an engaging exchange of ideas with students, faculty and the public. Professor Fleming will speak to the work she directs in a research lab that enables novel insight into the rules of life, mechanisms of disease, evolution and biological design. She will also address the need for a more inclusive Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics pipeline. She is an outspoken advocate for nurturing more diversity, representation and inclusion in the STEM fields. More about Prof. Fleming

All events will be remote on Zoom; selected events are by invitation only

Join UW PBK, along with the following co-sponsors of Professor Fleming’s presentations:

• Professor Sarah Keller, Department of Chemistry
• Joyce W. Yen, ADVANCE Center for Institutional Change
• Professor Ed Lazowska, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Sciences and Engineering

Events

Click on the name of an event for more information

• May 17, 4:00pm: UW Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Lecture — REGISTER
• May 18, 10:30am: Department of Chemistry Seminar – JOIN
• May 18, 3:00pm: A roundtable on DEI in STEM at UW – JOIN
• May 19, 10:00am: Student Leadership, Department of Chemistry (invitation only)
• May 19, 12:30pm: Student-Moderated Discussion for Students and Postdocs — REGISTER

UW Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Lecture

Nurturing a More Inclusive Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Pipeline

a presentation by Professor Fleming with discussion moderated by Joyce W. Yen, UW ADVANCE

• Using plumbing as a metaphor, why is there a leak of talent in the STEM fields?
• What are good practices to nurture a more inclusive STEM pipeline that reflects the diversity of our world?

Department of Chemistry Seminar

Microbial Hot Potato

a presentation by Prof. Fleming hosted by Prof. Sarah Keller, Department of Chemistry

• Exploring the randomness of molecular processes using the quality control system engineered for outer membrane protein (OMP) biogenesis
• Computer modeling highlights the integration of scientific disciplines ranging from microbial genetics to detailed biophysics

ADVANCE Mentoring-for-Leadership Lunch

Discussion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with women faculty in STEM at UW

A roundtable open to all

Activities and Resources for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in STEM at UW

What is the University of Washington doing to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM? What is working, and what is not working? This roundtable is open to all members of the University of Washington community. It will be moderated by Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering professor Ed Lazowska. Professor Fleming will serve as a guest commentator, providing a national perspective. UW panelists will include:

• Nayha Auradkar, Chair of ACM-W (a junior majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Neural Computation & Engineering)
• Kiana Swearingen, UW Title IX Office
• Karen Thomas-Brown, College of Engineering Associate Dean for DEI
• Elizabeth Umphress, Foster School of Business, UW’s representative to the National Academies Action Collaborative
• Joyce W. Yen, Director of UW ADVANCE Center for Institutional Change

Student Leadership, Department of Chemistry

Q&A discussion between Prof. Fleming and leaders of student groups

Hosted by InCS-UW officers Caroline Loe, Emma Cave, and Casey Bisted; and Claire West

Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

Student-Moderated Discussion with Prof. Fleming for all Students and Postdocs

moderated by UW Chemistry students: Caroline Loe, Emma Cave, Casey Bisted, and Claire West

MORE ABOUT PROFESSOR FLEMING

Professor Fleming directs a discovery-oriented research laboratory at the physics/biology intersection. Driven by the unique powers that biophysics can bring to solving complex cellular problems, her work enables novel insight into the rules of life, mechanisms of disease, evolution and biological design. The most recent research areas are focused on protein folding and bacterial protein biogenesis. In addition, Professor Fleming is an outspoken advocate for nurturing a more diverse, representative and inclusive STEM pipeline. She has won numerous awards for both her scientific and diversity/equity accomplishments, including the Thomas Thompson Award from the Biophysical Society and the Johns Hopkins Provosts prize for Faculty Excellence in Diversity. She serves as an Associate Editor at the Journal of Biological Chemistry.