Our Program
The Lamat (“star” in Mayan) Institute is dedicated to transforming STEM by providing opportunities for early career scientists to engage in novel research and creating healthy spaces for scientific inquiry. Our overarching goal over the past decade has been to invigorate the field through training and workplaces that reflect equity-advancing values and allow the full human diversity of our nation to meaningfully and maximally contribute to the field.
154
students have completed Lamat
2/3
of participants belong to historically marginalized groups in STEM
42%
of Lamat students attended community college
100%
graduate with a bachelor’s degree in STEM
80%
of program alumni go on to graduate school
6
program alumni are NASA Hubble Postdoctoral Fellows
18
program alumni are NSF Graduate Fellows
2/3
of participants are first generation college students
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the land on which UCSC is located, and where our feet are grounded today, is the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, comprised of the descendants of Indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands and heal from historical trauma.
We affirm that through our research and relationships, we have an obligation to deepen the wellness of our communities–those we come from; those we share this planet with now, including those impacted by our work, telescopes, and facilities; and those coming after us.