A Pioneering Biologist Explains Why We Must and How We Can Diversify the Scientific Workforce

The scientific workforce, particularly at its highest levels is still overwhelmingly white and male. This is particularly true in the fields of ecology and evolution. A number of explanations have been proposed for this condition, including the inherent incapacity of racialized individuals to do science, lack of familiarity and comfort of these individuals in nature, or greater attraction to other professions such as medicine. In this talk, I shall problematize all of the explanations and propose that what is at fault is the scientific enterprise itself. Thus, if we want to diversify the scientific work force, we must more seriously examine why we are doing science and who that science benefits.