Abstract 2725 The Chemistry of Community

A culturally aware scientific workforce is essential to addressing critical global challenges such as public health crises and climate change, while also rebuilding trust with marginalized communities. Mentorship that builds connections through shared passion is key to developing such a workforce in the realm of STEM. By doing so, we incorporate multiple cultural and intellectual perspectives to prepare the next generation of scientists for real world application of STEM beyond a sterile lab. Penn's First Exposure to Research in the Biological Sciences (PennFERBS) program, recruits high-achieving undergraduate students and immerses them in cutting-edge research and community partnership initiatives, highlighting the invaluable contributions of diverse scientists in STEM.