NSF Dubois
Categories: Collaborative
A team of UC Merced researchers is embarking on a transformative, multi-institutional project to elevate W.E.B. Du Bois from the margins of history textbooks and showcase him as a source of inspiration for racial and ethnic minority students. This initiative aims to integrate Du Bois’ groundbreaking contributions to statistics and data science into STEM curricula that emphasize innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Alongside two other universities, UC Merced is developing courses that highlight Du Bois’ pioneering work, particularly his collection of information graphics created for the 1900 Paris Exposition. These visualizations, designed with meticulous attention to detail, were decades ahead of their time and presented data from sociological research to challenge institutionalized racism in the United States
By illustrating the progress and struggles of Black Americans 35 years after emancipation, Du Bois and his collaborators countered the pseudo-scientific research that perpetuated racist ideologies. The striking charts and maps framed systemic inequality and presented a powerful narrative that questioned prevailing racial stereotypes, resonating with a diverse audience on an international stage. This project aims to center Du Bois’ legacy in STEM education, fostering a deeper understanding of his contributions while inspiring students from underrepresented backgrounds to see themselves as innovators and critical thinkers in modern data science.
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