There is an inherent connection between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Native Americans. The studies of medicine, engineering, astronomy and math have been taking place on this continent for centuries. Understanding how the environment works — and further experimentation to enhance that understanding — has allowed modern society to benefit from Indigenous knowledge and related innovations such as corn, kayaks, rubber and ointments, among many others.

Organizations like the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) continue to foster this relationship today. AISES is a national nonprofit focused on advancing indigenous people in STEM through a three-program effort: pre-college, college and professional. The effort is needed. Per the National Science Foundation, American Indians and Alaska Natives together made up less than 1% of the STEM workforce in 2021.

MSU Neuroscience junior Gianna Hicks leads the Michigan State University (MSU) chapter of AISES. One of over 180 chapters across the country, the chapter aims to increase the numbers of Indigenous persons seeking careers in STEM fields.

Beyond recruiting, it’s also important to have an organization that supports those undergraduate students already in pursuit. Canton-native Hicks appreciates that support, as it is her goal to become a physician’s assistant one day. Taking one step at a time, she’s happy to be pursuing that path at MSU.

“I have a bunch of family members who went to MSU, so I’ve always wanted to go to MSU. It was actually the only college I applied to because I wanted to go here so bad.”

Dr. Emily Sorroche, Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion associate director in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and a leader in MSU’s native community, was aware there was a group of students who had already connected with AISES on a broader, national level. Establishing something on the local level always has its challenges, but Sorroche knew she could help to incorporate an entity on campus.

“We had been discussing amongst a few of us to bring AISES back after some of the students graduated. I was able to fuse together a NIFA Grant Mentoring Initiative into AISES, since the missions aligned,” explains Dr. Sorroche. “There were students already a part of AISES through national opportunities who got the organization moving toward an official [registered student organization] here on campus.”

Dr. Sorroche reached out to Hicks among others about reestablishing a chapter of AISES on campus. Hicks says she was brought in as part of the initial group to form the organization’s bylaws and goals. The group started out meeting virtually in the after-effects of a pandemic to discuss those aspects, officially establishing the chapter as a student group in fall 2022. Dr. Sorroche took on the adviser role. 

Beyond interests in STEM, Hicks knows the organization can be an entryway to more community. Organizations like AISES can serve as a welcoming space for Native/Indigenous students with similar interests. She knows this because of how it worked out for her. 

“I didn’t really know what sorts of Native American organizations or groups were on campus initially. That’s why I was so excited to get the email about AISES. At that point, I didn’t even know about NAISO yet,” Hicks explains.

NAISO is MSU’s North American Indigenous Student Organization and the main undergraduate entity for Native students. Hicks came to realize the importance of connecting with NAISO but also understood she would appreciate an organization like AISES, who specifically focuses on STEM pathways.

Hicks says that, while she is pursuing the health industry, several members are pursuing other fields like engineering and even teaching STEM, adding to the diversity of the group.

“AISES is important because it gives people a community to come back to with others sharing that interest. People just like you. You can talk and share your experiences. For someone who is younger than me and wants to go down the same path, this sets me up to help them,” says Hicks.

As a freshman, Hicks wasn’t sure what road to take. She says she didn’t know anything about being a PA at that point. Sorroche, from the faculty/staff lens of things, knows that growth process and, thus, understands how the organization benefits on a macro-level. 

“AISES is a social and professional organization, so this gives the opportunity for mentorship, friendship and networking at national conferences. Though we focus on Native students to increase numbers, AISES is open to everyone,” says Sorroche.

Hicks is taking advantage of those opportunities and is now also active on a national level as the Region 6 student representative. Through the affiliation, she was able to attend the AISES National Conference in Spokane, Washington this past October. 

“[The conference] was really great. There was a lot of networking, so it was nice getting to meet people who do want to hire more Native Americans and increase their diversity,” Hicks recounts. “There were Native American students presenting their research — it was really interesting. We had a career fair, and I talked to so many people!”

The effort to get more marginalized groups involved in STEM is gaining traction.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science (CBIKS) “aims to advance knowledge about environmental change and its effects on food and cultural systems at local and global scales by combining Indigenous knowledge with Western science in effective, ethical and novel ways.” This fall, NSF announced a $120 million investment over five years to support four new Science and Technology Centers.

The MSU chapter of AISES wants to build on this momentum. Along with recruiting, another next step is to hopefully build more relationships with on-campus and off-campus entities in the hopes of opening more local pathways for its members. Through local partnerships, for instance, one of the fun projects the group has been able to participate in was growing native plants at a local medicinal garden. 

Efforts and experiences like these are precisely why Dr. Sorroche sees the benefit of having an AISES chapter at MSU. To increase the numbers of Indigenous North Americans seeking degrees and careers in STEM fields, students must hit the STEM pathway early.

“There are not many students of color in STEM. It is important to invest and pour into supportive, career-based opportunities for students in the STEM fields.”