News Highlights
Longtime iCons Instructor Jared Starr Leads Study Linking America's Wealthiest to 40% of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Story from UMass News: A new study, led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, reveals that the wealthiest Americans, those whose income places them in the top 10% of earners, are responsible for 40% of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The study, published in PLOS Climate, is the first to link income, especially income derived from financial investments, to the emissions used in generating that income. The authors suggest that policymakers adopt taxes focused on shareholders and the carbon intensity of investment incomes in order to equitably meet the goal of keeping the global temperature to 1.5 C of warming.
UMass iCons Program Celebrates Success in Promoting Women and Diversity in STEM at its 10th Graduation Ceremony
The UMass Amherst Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) program proudly concluded its 10th Annual Senior Exposition, showcasing its remarkable success in promoting women in STEM and fostering their success as innovators. The event, held on May 18, 2023, marked another milestone in the program's dedication to empowering underrepresented voices in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Western Mass Economic Development Council Joins UMass iCons' Industry Consortium to Enhance Local Economy Through Internships
Story from UMass News: The Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC) and the UMass Amherst iCons Program, under the umbrella of the iCons Industry Consortium, are joining forces to provide UMass iCons students with exceptional internship and career opportunities in western Massachusetts. This partnership highlights the collective strength of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the iCons Program, and the EDC, demonstrating their commitment to fostering talent and economic growth in the region.
Recent iCons Graduate – Audrey Gabriel – Receives 21st Century Leader Award
We are proud to announce that Audrey Gabriel '23, a recent iCons graduate who double-majored in Microbiology and Public Health Sciences, has been selected as a recipient of the UMass Amherst 21st Century Leader Award. This prestigious award recognizes graduating seniors at UMass Amherst who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, academic excellence, and a commitment to making a positive impact on their communities.
iCons Announces the 2023 Crowley-Nowick Award for iCons Student Leadership and Philanthropy
We are excited to announce the 2023 recipients of the Crowley-Nowick Award: Sriya Munugoti ‘25 (Biochemistry & Molecular Biology) and Jack Minella ‘24 (Environmental Science).
Making the STEM World a Better Place
iCons senior, Kathryne (Kitty) Lovell ‘23, was recently selected as one of ten members of the Class of 2023 to be awarded the 21st Century Leader Award. This prestigious award recognizes graduating seniors at UMass Amherst who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, academic excellence, and a commitment to making a positive impact on their communities.
When asked why she joined the UMass iCons Program, Kitty said, “I joined iCons because I wanted to find a group of people who are interested in making the world a better place within their field of STEM.” Through her senior thesis work, Kitty is working towards this goal and helping to make the world of STEM education a more inviting and inclusive atmosphere.
UMass iCons Hosts Spring Info Session for Interested Students
UMass iCons hosted a virtual Spring Info Session for students interested in UMass Amherst and to help recruit the next amazing cohort of iCons students.
iCons Women in Power
Full story from UMass Amherst: The Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program alters expectations about what undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and business are capable of achieving.
UMass Amherst iCons brings the real world into the classroom with two goals in mind: preparing undergraduates for success after graduation and equipping them to change the world for the better. To do this, iCons asks students to tackle problems that have defied solution by even the world's foremost experts.
Christine Hatch Named Associate Director of Academics for iCons
UMass Amherst’s Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program has announced the appointment of Christine Hatch, extension associate professor in the Department of Earth, Geographic and Climate Sciences, as the new associate director of academics. In her new role, Hatch will oversee the academic programs of iCons and provide leadership to the program’s faculty and students.
Fermann Reflects on iCons Legacy
Dr. Justin Fermann is a Chemical Education and Theoretical Computational professor at UMass Amherst and has played a critical role in the creation and continued development of the UMass Integrated Concentration in STEM Program (iCons) as an educational program, serving in multiple roles: instructor, program director, and associate director of academics. This spring semester, Fermann is taking a step back from his major responsibilities as an iCons administrator and will be focusing more on student education. Without Justin Fermann, iCons would not be what it is today and we all thank him.
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