ABRCMS is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Minority Access to Research Careers and is the largest professional conference for minority students interested in pursuing advanced training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It attracts approximately 3,300 individuals, including 1,700 undergraduate students; 400 graduate students and postdoctoral scientists; and 1,200 faculty, program directors, and administrators.
SOT has been an exhibitor and session sponsor at the ABRCMS meeting for seven years. This meeting is an important component of the SOT strategy to provide information about and encourage interest in the science of toxicology to undergraduate students and educators and enhance their awareness of the diverse educational and career opportunities in the field.
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Director Emeritus Kenneth Olden (pictured at right) will be featured as the SOT–sponsored speaker at the 13th Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) November 14, 2013, in Nashville, Tennessee. His talk is entitled “Environmental Health Disparities in the Age of Epigenomics.” Dr. Olden currently heads the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) and the Human Health Risk Assessment Program (HHRA).
Sakina Eltom, Associate Professor at Meharry Medical Colleges and member of the Committee on Diversity Initiatives, will host the exhibit on behalf of the committee. She will speak with attendees about advanced studies and careers in toxicology and encourage students to take advantage of undergraduate resources, sign up as SOT Student Affiliates, and apply for the 2015 Undergraduate Education program on the SOT website.