The $1 million dollar grant was used in a number of ways to help Bryn Mawr build on its already-impressive history of preparing young women to become leaders in science research and medicine. As part of the award, Bryn Mawr and other Capstone Award recipients were asked to identify the key elements that led to their success in preparing STEM students and broadening access to undergraduate science education. They were also asked to share their efforts with other schools seeking reform. These findings are now available at
This collaboration has revealed striking similarities in approaches taken by the Capstone Award recipients to improve science education, particularly in four specific areas:
- Developing Inquiry Skills
- Increasing Persistence of all Students in STEM
- Fostering Integrative or Interdisciplinary Learning
- Pathways to Institutional Change
The newly completed and released website features detailed information from each Capstone Institution about its programming via an In addition, a synthesis of lessons learned in each of the four areas has been constructed from the experiences of all the institutions.
Associate Professor of Biology Greg Davis and Director of Institutional Grants Madge Rothenberg led Bryn Mawr’s efforts in this project.