Dr. Eugene Mananga of BCC’s Department of Engineering, Physics, and Technology was a panelist in a roundtable discussion hosted by the Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists of the U.S Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

The October 6 virtual gathering focused on the barriers students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups face in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields.

Among the questions Dr. Mananga addressed was,” What elements do you look for in a research internship or award program that you would encourage your mentees to apply for?” His answer: “Many of my mentees are from underrepresented groups. Many mentees do not understand the value of a research internship or award program.

I encourage them to apply for research internships or award programs that open many doors and that will keep them enthusiastic about STEM careers.”

Dr. Mananga went away from the forum quite satisfied with the results. “It was a very interactive roundtable. It was a great pleasure for me to be invited to such a high-level discussion.”