Indigenous Knowledge and the Future of STEM with Dr. Meredith Hecker

Native peoples have always been innovators, observers, problem-solvers, and stewards of knowledge. Drawing on her experiences as a Blackfeet educator, mathematician, STEM researcher, NASA Space Grant leader, and Department Head of Native American Studies, Dr. Hecker explores how Indigenous knowledge and STEM are not competing ways of understanding the world but complementary ones. Through personal stories, research on Native student success in mathematics, and examples from education and community engagement, she highlights the strengths Native students bring to STEM fields and the opportunities that emerge when Indigenous perspectives are recognized as valuable contributions to scientific discovery and innovation.
Registration is suggested.