A planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will organize a public workshop to examine the policies, practices, and systems to retain Black people in science, engineering, and medical (SEM) professions. Discussions will explore systems of support that help increase resilience for early, middle, and late-career Black professionals across SEM fields; precipitates of attrition and persistence; and programs and policies that organizations, institutions, and decision-makers can enact to ensure Black people provide sustained contributions to the U.S. SEM enterprise.

Major objectives of the workshop include:

• Examining data trends and research on college enrollment, degree attainment, and persistence for Black students and professionals in science, engineering, and medical careers;
• Highlighting successful frameworks, programs, and institutional policies for retention and exploring potential limitations and areas for improvement by sector; and
• Exploring novel and unconventional pathways Black SEM professionals use to achieve success within their disciplines.

Following the workshop, a rapporteur-authored workshop proceedings will be published.