Giving Opportunities 2021

As a long time leader in STEM research and discovery, the home of the Free Speech Movement and a hub for social justice, UC Berkeley is the place to be the change you want to see in the world. 

The STEM Excellence through Equity & Diversity (SEED) Scholars Program prepares outstanding students to become change-makers, scholars and leaders, increasing the representation of underrepresented individuals in academia and other professions, while engaging in innovative research. SEED is an honors program focused on supporting and inspiring undergraduate populations, many of whom are from low income, first generation backgrounds, majoring in all areas of STEM; the program welcomed its second cohort of scholars  on July 5th, 2021 and will grow by 50 students per incoming cohort next year bringing the total to almost 100 scholars within a three year period. 

“The SEED Scholars program goes hand-in-hand with our commitment to a more diverse and inclusive culture across our campus. It will enable Berkeley’s continued success as an engine of social mobility and a source for the next generation of top talent to such areas as academia, science, and high-tech industries in Silicon Valley and beyond..” - Carol Christ, Chancellor

With a gift towards SEED you can support exceptional students in science in the following areas:

• Student access to cutting-edge research laboratories during the first year of study, with a focus on completing a research thesis and participating in scientific conferences, internships, and other professional development.
• A summer intensive prior to a student’s first year, where they meet and work with faculty, partake in rigorous foundational courses in STEM, and collaborate with their peers through community service projects, field research trips, and more.
• Personalized mentorship from faculty, staff, Ph.D. students, and more senior undergraduate scholars, helping navigate Berkeley and seek out research opportunities.

For more information on SEED please visit: https://seedscholars.berkeley.edu/.

“The UC Berkeley SEED Scholars Program brings together a gifted group of young scholars interested in science, technology, engineering, and math, who will inspire and enable their own amazing potential to work and discover together.” - Michael R. Botchan, Dean of Biological Sciences

“The SEED Scholars Program has arrived at a critical moment in which the world’s scientists must both lead at the bench and address the broader impacts of our research. I am enthusiastic about engaging with emerging scholars in the STEM disciplines who deeply value community, contribute novel insights in science, and commit themselves to the reimagination of the world’s Institutions toward the betterment of human life and the environment.”

-Adrian Davey, Third-Year Ph.D. Candidate

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

SEED Scholars Honors Program Assistant/Mentor