“Do not think for one minute that because you are who you are, you cannot be who you imagine yourself to be. Hold fast to those dreams and let them carry you into a world you can’t even imagine.”
Dr. Jedidah C. Isler, an American astrophysicist, educator, and an active advocate for diversity in STEM.
Talent is everywhere. But scientists who have been excluded from the community have fewer role models and smaller networks, which makes it more challenging to climb the career ladder. They often carry a greater burden outside work. We want to increase representation, level the playing field, and help eliminate this inequity in the scientific community.
Academia has a Diversity Problem
The biomedical-science workforce does not reflect the diversity of the population.
This disparity arises, in part, from unfair barriers to productivity. As a consequence, women have shorter academic careers than men, and Black scientists are less likely than White scientists to be awarded an NIH R01 award, the most common source of academic funding for health-related research in the US. This reduced productivity is perpetuated by many obstacles uniquely faced by minoritized scientists, including but not limited to cumulative disadvantage (i.e., “The Matthew Effect“), isolation, bias, as well as sexism and racism.
Black, Latinx and Indigenous people represent 28% of US residents but only 9% of Full Professors.
Data source: full time faculty in the fall 2018, and non institutionalized resident population of the United States ages 18–64, by race, ethnicity and sex, 2017
“… discrimination can be extremely costly. It can prevent people from rising to the top, and it can even prevent them from being recognized when they do.”
Female Scientist from the US
Inequity Hurts People and Science.
These inequalities are harmful to scientists. They are also harmful to scientific progress: a diverse workforce enhances productivity, innovation, and teamwork, and produces more impactful science.
Women are 20% less likely to become a Full Professor.
Data source: Lerchenmueller, M. J. & Sorenson, O., Res. Policy 47,1007–1017 (2018)
“In addition to running a research department, I am a mother to wonderful kids. Life is obviously very busy, with work- and family-related tasks competing for my time. You have helped me balance these demands by supporting me in a key aspect of scientific life: the communication and publication of scientific data.“
Mom Scientist from Germany
More new mothers leave their full time careers in STEM.
Data source: Cech, E. A. & Blair-Loy, M. PNAS March 5, 2019 116 (10) 4182-4187
Unfair obstacles interfere with performance, persistence, and progression.
The disproportionate challenges effectively exclude these scientists from science, creating an unbalanced culture where white males dominate the top positions, which perpetuates the inequality.
We aim to empower the excluded to progress to the top academically, by providing support and a sense of belonging, by coaching them through the academic process, and by alleviating some of their burdens at work. These efforts will ultimately position them as policy shapers, resource controllers, and decision makers, so they can further promote equity from within.
“I would love to be properly mentored on how to write research … To write for research grants.… But, you know, there is no one to enlighten you on that.”
Female scientist from Nigeria.
Literature and Personal Essays
- Transforming myself and academia for good Chrystal Starbird
- Still we rise Olufolakemi Olusanya
- To See, Study, and Serve Suuba M. Demby
- Finding healing where it hurts Jay Gill
- Science as a tool for justice Elle Lett
- We like neurons Charleese Williams
- Achieving diversity and equity through inclusion Elijah Malik Persad-Paisley
- Juneteenth in STEMM and the barriers to equitable science Alfred Mays et al.
- Recruiting women faculty through inclusive, family-friendly practices Rebeca San Martin et al.
- Organizations in science and medicine must hold each other accountable for discriminatory practices Julie K. Silver et al.
- Fund Black scientists Kelly R. Stevens et al.
- Pride in STEM worldwide Juno Obedin-Maliver et al.
- STEM Pride: Perspectives from transgender, nonbinary, and genderqueer scientists Adam Armada-Moreira et al.
- Unrealized potential from smaller institutions: Four strategies for advancing STEM diversity Monessha Jayabalan et al.
- Gender inequality in academia: Problems and solutions for women faculty in STEM Bettina J. Casad et al.
- Creating an inclusive community for BIPOC faculty: women of color in academia Phoebe S. Lin et al.
- Framework for advancing equity in academic medicine and science: Perspectives from early career female faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic Sade Spencer et al.
- Increasing Latinx representation in the US medical schools: A top-ranked medical school’s experience Leonor Corsino et al.
Africa is home to 15% of the population but produces 2% of the scientific output.
Data source: Beaudry, Catherine, et al. The Next Generation of Scientists in Africa. African Books Collective, 2018. Project MUSE
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