Women in Scientific Discovery or Medicine (wisdom): Engaging K-12 and Undergraduate Students in the Basic and Health Sciences

Women in Scientific Discovery or Medicine (WISDOM) is a science outreach organization which promotes the advancement and retention of women and underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) through mentorship. The organization was created and is run entirely by graduate students at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS). WISDOM participates in science outreach and education at both the undergraduate and K‐12 levels. The undergraduate programming pairs graduate or professional students in the basic and health sciences with undergraduate students interested in those fields. In addition to one‐on‐one or group mentorship, WISDOM hosts career seminar series and professional development activities for both graduate and undergraduate students. These programs provide young women with direct access to mentors and role models along with opportunities for networking. WISDOM's K‐12 outreach is focused on engaging students in STEMM disciplines through classroom visits, hands‐on activities, and field trips to the RFUMS campus. Through these activities WISDOM aims to create a pipeline that promotes undergraduate and graduate education in STEMM.