Oct 13 - Nov 05
Día de Muertos 2025
Bridging Ethnic Studies and the Sciences: A Conversation on History, Justice, and Research Practices
Nov 13, 2025 1:00pm - 3:00pm
University Library: Jack & Florence Ferman Presentation Room
Marginalized communities—including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other people of color—have been exploited in the name of scientific “progress.” From the history of eugenics to unethical medical experiments, these practices have left lasting legacies of harm and deep mistrust between communities and researchers. This workshop brings together faculty from Ethnic Studies and the sciences to reflect on those histories and discuss how we can move toward more ethical, socially responsible approaches to research today. Panelists will share perspectives on past injustices, the ongoing impact of exploitative practices, and pathways for bridging social justice and scientific inquiry. Our goal is to spark dialogue and to imagine practices that honor equity, accountability, and community trust in science. Faculty, students, and community members from all backgrounds are invited to join this important conversation.
Please RSVP for this event at the bottom of this page.
Speakers
Dr. Kalani Heinz
Kalani Heinz (she/they) is an Assistant Professor in American Indian Studies focusing on Native Sciences, Social-Emotional Learning, and Indigenizing teaching practices. They are currently working on developing Native Science curriculum as part of the forthcoming American Indian and Indigenous Interdisciplinary Studies Major. Her previous research combined ArcGIS mapping with archival research to reconstruct plantation-period landscapes in Maui.
Dr. Elena A. Miranda
Professor Miranda earned her BS in Geology from Southern Methodist University and her Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Wyoming. She has been a professor at California State University Northridge for the last 19 years, where she is also the director of the CSUN Geology Scanning Electron Microscopy Lab. Dr. Miranda is a structural geologist whose research focus is on fault systems in Southern California and New Zealand.
Dr. Stevie Ruiz
Stevie Ruiz is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair of Chicana/o Studies. His interdisciplinary research and teaching focuses on environmental justice, comparative race and ethnicity, critical science studies, and geography. His forthcoming book, Stewards of the Land: Race, Space, and Environmental Justice will be released in April 2026 by UNC Press.
Dr. Alyssa Collins
Dr. Alyssa Collins is an Assistant Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies at CSUN. Her research focuses on black feminist life, theories of embodiment and humanity, and the history of science and technology as represented in the work of Octavia E. Butler and other black speculative writers. She served as the inaugural Octavia E. Butler Fellow at the Huntington Library from 2021-22.
Dr. Casey terHorst
Casey terHorst is an evolutionary ecologist in the Biology Department who studies the consequences of genetic diversity in plants and microbial organisms. He is also invested in increasing diversity in scientific fields and understanding the historical and contemporary barriers to equity and inclusion. He is a CSUN alumnus and has been a professor for 13 years, with training at Florida State and Michigan State Universities.
RSVP Form
Assistive Services
Requests for accommodation services (e.g. sign language interpreters or transcribers) must be made at least five (5) business days in advance. Please email library.event@csun.edu in advance of the event.