It’s Time to Turn Science on Its Head
While it has made incredible strides in the last century, science still doesn’t represent all of humanity—especially when it comes to diversity in race, gender identity, disability status, and sexual orientation. This is a problem we have to solve together.
Public policies that encourage scientists to share their work more broadly are needed. We need programs that encourage more people (like women and people of color) to pursue careers in science. Scientific research should be available to all. Ensuring that all scientific research is published in open access journals and made available to the public.
We need scientists and institutions of higher education to collaborate on creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels safe. Scientists need the freedom and time to be part of this process, but they also have much to contribute.
Science Tackles the World’s Pressing Problems
In recent years, the scientific community has made strides to increase diversity in its ranks. There are now more women and people of color working in science than ever before. But there is still much work to be done: women and members of minority groups continue to be underrepresented in science — especially at senior levels — and face discrimination on a daily basis.
Why is it so important that we address these problems? In short, because science tackles some of the world’s most pressing problems, and solving them requires a workforce with a range of perspectives. The biggest scientific challenges facing humanity right now —covid-19, cancer, antibiotic-resistant superbugs and global climate change — are all global phenomena that affect everyone on Earth.
We need scientists from all backgrounds working together to address these challenges from multiple angles if we have any hope of succeeding.
Diversity in Science Links to Innovation
Diverse teams perform better. They can focus on multiple issues simultaneously, which means they solve problems faster and come up with more solutions.
And those solutions are more innovative because they are coming from people who have had different experiences, who grew up in different places and who approach problems from diverse perspectives.
That’s why diversity in science needs to be part of our innovation strategy.
Diversity in Science Leads to More Innovative Collaborations
Diversity, the kind that results in organizations and teams where people of all races and genders feel like they belong, is good for business.
That’s not just because it’s the right thing to do. It’s because diversity leads to more creative problem-solving and better decision-making. Studies have shown that diverse teams are more likely to come up with unconventional solutions, better at solving complex problems and more likely to consider the effect of their work on all people, including those who aren’t like them.
Those benefits don’t come easily. Workplace diversity requires a commitment from leadership and the active work of employees at every level of an organization. But it starts with one simple idea: making sure everyone has a seat at the table.
Equal Opportunity for Science Professionals is Still a Long Way Off
As society becomes more inclusive, we’re seeing more women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples and people with disabilities enter the scientific research field. While this is certainly a step in the right direction for our communities, there is still a long way to go before everyone has equal opportunity to pursue a career in science.
According to data from the National Science Foundation, only about 20% of people working in science-related occupations are white women. While this number is certainly better than it was 30 years ago, it’s still not as good as it could be — if more diversity were embraced in scientific research and innovation we would have more discoveries and improved quality of life for everyone. The same goes for the other groups mentioned above (visible minorities, Indigenous peoples and persons with disabilities).
The first step is to acknowledge that there’s a problem, and we’ve done that. The next step is looking at what we can do to fix it.
But it’s not just about making sure people from different backgrounds get an equal opportunity to succeed in science. We also have to look at the systemic barriers that have led to this problem in the first place. These barriers need to be addressed at all levels, so everyone has an equal opportunity for success.
Take for example, the way we judge people based on their first impressions. That’s a form of unconscious bias that plays an important role in influencing how students or job applicants are perceived by those who conduct interviews or screen CVs. Luckily there are ways to overcome this challenge through interventions like blind review processes.
There should also be explicit policies that promote diversity at institutions that carry out scientific research or provide training programs (e.g., universities). We also need to do a better job at promoting science careers to high school students from diverse backgrounds (girls from socioeconomically disadvantaged families; ethnic minority children; Indigenous youth etc.).
This might seem complicated but it’s really not — we just need to keep working towards making our society more inclusive!
Better Together: Diversity & Inclusion
Science is at a crossroads.
Policymakers, corporations, and educators are being asked to consider the diversity of individuals in STEM fields.
This approach aligns with the mission of scientific success within the context of social commitment and scientific values.
To achieve this, government programs can provide incentives for private-sector partners to hire individuals from underrepresented groups.
In addition, universities could offer scholarships to encourage students from these groups to enroll in science programs. Finally, we could increase funding for research on the integration of diverse populations into science careers.
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Opportunities to Create Diversity in Science
In the science and tech industries, white, able-bodied males are over-represented, with Hispanics making up only 6% of researchers. But you can help change that by getting involved with initiatives that work to increase diversity in STEM.
- Encourage girls to pursue science from an early age: The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) has a fantastic website called “Science NetLinks” that offers free resources for teachers and careers professionals who want to help young people do better at STEM subjects. Among these resources is a guide on “Engaging Girls in Science,” which provides hands-on ideas and activities designed to get girls excited about science.
- Support visible minorities and Indigenous peoples in pursuing education: Organizations like the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) primarily serve students who are underrepresented minorities in science fields, including Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans/Alaska Natives and Pacific Islanders. If you’re looking for ways to make a difference within your own community, you could volunteer as a mentor or chaperone at one of SACNAS’s events across North America—or partner with them on something bigger.
- Assist people with disabilities: Many organizations offer support specifically tailored towards scientists with disabilities—whether that means helping them find jobs during their studies or giving them access to funding opportunities later in their career.
Science Can’t Afford to Ignore Diversity
There is no question that diversity is necessary in science. A diverse set of voices brings in different perspectives and ideas, which can then lead to breakthroughs in scientific research. This is especially important for health-related fields, where researchers are tasked with identifying treatments for diseases and conditions that affect millions of people.
So, it’s not surprising that there have been so many scientists who have dedicated their lives to this work—and it’s also not surprising that they have faced criticism from others within the field.
However, what some may not know about these critics is that they often come from outside academia: They don’t hold doctorates and they may not even work at universities. Instead, they’re ordinary people who feel like their voices aren’t being heard—and that’s why we need more diversity in science.
We’ve seen how diversity helps innovation thrive across industries—and scientific research is no exception. It makes sense to include different voices because each person brings something unique; if everyone thought exactly alike, there wouldn’t be any new ideas! Inclusion also helps foster collaboration between people with different backgrounds who might otherwise never meet each other; this leads to better results overall for everyone.
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