Lisa Ikemoto, a professor in the UC Davis School of Law, discusses her team’s research project, “Developing Feminist Frameworks for Ethics of Genome Modification.” Ikemoto became interested in studying the ethics of CRISPR/Cas-9 after attending the International Summit on Human Gene Editing in December 2015. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

The Feminist Research Institute symposium, “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” May 17, 2017, at the UC Davis Conference Center, was a chance for faculty, staff and students to explore how inequalities along lines of gender, race and class impact the very nature of research. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Susan Ebeler, professor of viticulture and enology and associate dean for Undergraduate Academic Programs, discusses preliminary findings from an ongoing research study, “Gender Distribution in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences,” at the Feminist Research Institute symposium “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

The Feminist Research Institute symposium, “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” May 17, 2017, at the UC Davis Conference Center, was a chance for faculty, staff and students to explore how inequalities along lines of gender, race and class impact the very nature of research. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Keynote speaker Stacey Ritz at the Feminist Research Institute symposium, May 17, 2017. Ritz is an associate professor in the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine at Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Her research includes integrating sex and gender into laboratory-based biomedical research. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Muneeza Rizvi, a graduate student in the Department of Anthropology, presents findings from her study “White Men Don’t Mataam: Masculinity and Moral Criticism and Islamic Britain” at the Feminist Research Institute symposium “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Yvette Flores, professor of Chicana/o studies, discusses research on climate change’s potential effects on farmworker women and their families. Feminist Research Institute symposium “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Suad Joseph, distinguished professor of anthropology and gender, sexuality, and women's studies, greets keynote speaker Stacey Ritz at the Feminist Research Institute symposium, May 17, 2017.

Maxine Craig, professor of gender, sexuality and women’s studies, asks a question of the panelists at the Feminist Research Institute symposium, “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Kyaw Tha Paw U, professor of atmospheric science, shows one of the devices being used to measure household temperatures, part of a study looking at how climate change is affecting farmworker women and their families in California’s Central Valley. Feminist Research Institute symposium “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Suad Joseph, distinguished professor of anthropology and gender, sexuality, and women's studies, asks a question at the Feminist Research Institute symposium “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Sarah McCullough, associate director for the Feminist Research Institute, moderated the symposium at the UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. The Special Research Program under the Office of Research launched in late 2015 with a focus on research development and bridging the gap between the humanistic and scientific sides of campus. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Marco Molinaro, assistant vice provost for Educational Effectiveness, discusses findings from a research study to find ways to increase women and underrepresented minority students in environmental and other physical science majors at UC Davis. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

N. Claire Napawan, associate professor of landscape architecture and environmental design, asks a question of the panelists at the Feminist Research Institute symposium, UC Davis Conference Center, May 17, 2017. Napawan was awarded a seed grant from the Feminist Research Institute to look at food waste management as an important component of sustainability and to elevate the significance of women’s work. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Laura Grindstaff, professor of sociology and interim director of the Feminist Research Institute, talks to keynote speaker Stacey Ritz. In her opening remarks, Grindstaff noted “In STEM, there is increasing attention to the under-representation of women and people of color as researchers, but much less attention to paid to the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of research itself.” (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

By Lisa Howard

May 24, 2017

In her opening remarks at the Feminist Research Institute symposium, “Feminist Research Across the Disciplines,” Interim Director Laura Grindstaff noted that feminist scholarship has had minimal impact on the STEM disciplines compared to social sciences and humanities.

“In STEM, there is increasing attention to the under-representation of women and people of color as researchers, but much less attention to paid to the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of research itself,” said Grindstaff. “Having a more diverse workforce is important, but that won’t necessarily or automatically change research priorities or the process of knowledge-production itself.”

The Feminist Research Institute (FRI, pronounced “free”) is a relatively young organization at UC Davis. The Special Research Program launched in late 2015 with a focus on research development and bridging the gap between the humanistic and scientific sides of campus.

The day-long symposium at the UC Davis Conference Center May 17 provided a chance for faculty, staff and students to explore how inequalities along lines of gender, race and class impact the very nature of research.

“Who produces knowledge matters. Identity, social background, and training all shape the kinds of questions researchers ask, the kinds of ‘data’ that count as evidence, and the range of possible interpretations of that data,” said Grindstaff.

Ken Burtis, interim provost and professor of genetics, described FRI as a unique academic asset at UC Davis. “There is nothing quite like FRI in the UC system,” said Burtis, who also noted that the institute supports UC Davis’ 2020 Initiative, a university-wide plan to build on the institution’s excellence, create a more diverse community of scholars and achieve financial stability.

Faculty teams who received FRI seed grants presented preliminary findings from their projects followed by presentations from graduate students who had received FRI summer fellowships. Topics ranged from the ethics of CRISPR/Cas-9 to the already significant impact of climate change on farmworker women in California’s Central Valley to the factors that go into which STEM majors are selected by women and underrepresented minorities in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Stacey Ritz, an associate professor in the Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, was the keynote speaker. Ritz’s research includes integrating sex and gender into laboratory-based biomedical research.

The day ended with a panel discussion, “A Conversation Between Scientists and Humanists,” which featured faculty from various disciplines, including history, civil and environmental engineering, nursing, earth and planetary sciences and cinema and digital media.

“The symposium demonstrated the transformative potential of feminist research, and that UC Davis is ready to be a leader connecting feminist approaches to new research fields,” said Sarah McCullough, associate director of FRI. “We have an impressive list of established feminist scholars and a groundswell of enthusiasm from scholars new to feminist research. This event is just the beginning of our work.”

To learn more about FRI, visit the website, or sign up for the FRI newsletter to stay up to date on events and research funding opportunities.

Links

Media Contact

Sarah McCullough, associate director, Feminist Research Institute, smcc@ucdavis.edu