Professional Development Event
Lunch & Learn: Breaking Barriers in STEM
20 August 2024 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PDT | Conv. Ctr. Room 33C
Hear stories from inspiring changemakers in our field and learn how to bring similar change to your communities.
Dr. Imrana Ashraf will speak on how and why she worked to establish a self-funded program called “Active Learning in Optics” (ALO). ALO aims to bring physical sciences to underprivileged girls in high schools, colleges, and universities in remote areas of Pakistan. Starting in January 2016, ALO provides enriching STEM experiences in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Dr. Preeti Jagadev will be sharing personal experiences that shaped her journey as a woman in STEM and discuss the international outreach activities she conducted over the past five years to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.
Following their presentations, you'll have an opportunity to engage with our speakers in a fireside chat hosted by our moderator.
PRESENTERS:
Dr. Imrana Ashraf
Dr. Imrana Ashraf is the first Pakistani woman to complete her PhD in Quantum Optics. She is affiliated with Department of Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. She is senior member of OPTICA, senior member of SPIE, Senior Associate at The Abdus Salam Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) from 2019-2024) and managing director of International Commission for Optics in Pakistan. She was one of the facilitators for UNESCO's teacher-training workshop ALOP in Islamabad in connection with IYL in 2015.
Ashraf established Active learning in Optics (ALO), a self-funded program under the umbrella of ICTP and QAU to bring physical sciences to underprivileged girls schools, colleges, and universities in remote areas of Pakistan. It started in January 2016 as a way to provide girls enriching science experiences in a very friendly atmosphere. Since January 2016, 70 optics outreach activities have been conducted in remote areas of Pakistan.
Dr Ashraf has been awarded with three international awards: the ICO/ICTOP Prize in 2024, the Spirit of Salam Award in 2017, and the OPTICA Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Award in 2022.
Dr. Preeti Jagadev
Dr. Preeti Jagadev is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Syracuse University where she teaches subjects in the data science domain. She has always pursued research that simultaneously contributes to the advancement of science as well as to the betterment of human health. Preeti is an SPIE Early Career Professional Member, and the 2024 SPIE Diversity Outreach Award winner. In 2021, her profile was featured in the SPIE Women in Optics publication. Preeti’s own experiences made her aware of the barriers faced by underrepresented groups in STEM, leading to her advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in those areas. She has mentored multiple students from underprivileged areas of India, helping them in pursuing their education and research. As a result, she earned acclaim from both the former and present education ministers of India for her contributions to the field of STEM. Further, Preeti was recognized as “Inspiration for Aspiration” by the Directorate of Women and Child Development, Government of Goa, India, for being a successful woman in STEM. Preeti has been an active advocate of DEI for the past 5 years and has experience mentoring a diverse cohort of students from India, the USA, Brazil, Chile, Poland, Germany, and Ireland.
MENU: Boxed-lunch service for the first 40 guests with gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options available.
SETUP: Classroom style setup.
Dr. Imrana Ashraf will speak on how and why she worked to establish a self-funded program called “Active Learning in Optics” (ALO). ALO aims to bring physical sciences to underprivileged girls in high schools, colleges, and universities in remote areas of Pakistan. Starting in January 2016, ALO provides enriching STEM experiences in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere. Dr. Preeti Jagadev will be sharing personal experiences that shaped her journey as a woman in STEM and discuss the international outreach activities she conducted over the past five years to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM.
Following their presentations, you'll have an opportunity to engage with our speakers in a fireside chat hosted by our moderator.
PRESENTERS:
Dr. Imrana Ashraf
Dr. Imrana Ashraf is the first Pakistani woman to complete her PhD in Quantum Optics. She is affiliated with Department of Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. She is senior member of OPTICA, senior member of SPIE, Senior Associate at The Abdus Salam Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) from 2019-2024) and managing director of International Commission for Optics in Pakistan. She was one of the facilitators for UNESCO's teacher-training workshop ALOP in Islamabad in connection with IYL in 2015.
Ashraf established Active learning in Optics (ALO), a self-funded program under the umbrella of ICTP and QAU to bring physical sciences to underprivileged girls schools, colleges, and universities in remote areas of Pakistan. It started in January 2016 as a way to provide girls enriching science experiences in a very friendly atmosphere. Since January 2016, 70 optics outreach activities have been conducted in remote areas of Pakistan.
Dr Ashraf has been awarded with three international awards: the ICO/ICTOP Prize in 2024, the Spirit of Salam Award in 2017, and the OPTICA Diversity and Inclusion Advocacy Award in 2022.
Dr. Preeti Jagadev
Dr. Preeti Jagadev is an Assistant Teaching Professor at Syracuse University where she teaches subjects in the data science domain. She has always pursued research that simultaneously contributes to the advancement of science as well as to the betterment of human health. Preeti is an SPIE Early Career Professional Member, and the 2024 SPIE Diversity Outreach Award winner. In 2021, her profile was featured in the SPIE Women in Optics publication. Preeti’s own experiences made her aware of the barriers faced by underrepresented groups in STEM, leading to her advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in those areas. She has mentored multiple students from underprivileged areas of India, helping them in pursuing their education and research. As a result, she earned acclaim from both the former and present education ministers of India for her contributions to the field of STEM. Further, Preeti was recognized as “Inspiration for Aspiration” by the Directorate of Women and Child Development, Government of Goa, India, for being a successful woman in STEM. Preeti has been an active advocate of DEI for the past 5 years and has experience mentoring a diverse cohort of students from India, the USA, Brazil, Chile, Poland, Germany, and Ireland.
Event Details
FORMAT: Individual presentations followed by panel discussion with live audience Q&A.MENU: Boxed-lunch service for the first 40 guests with gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options available.
SETUP: Classroom style setup.