The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences held a two-day event exploring the current context, challenges, and next steps for their report: Antiracism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) in STEMM Organizations.
Report co-chairs Dr. Susan Fiske, Professor at Princeton University, and Editor of the FABBS journal, Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences (PIBBS), and Dr. Gilda Barabino, President of Olin College, presided over the event that featured presentations and facilitated in-depth discussions regarding the practical implementation of recommendations outlined in the NASEM report.
On the first day, panel discussions covered key topics, including strategies for establishing partnerships with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), addressing various forms of resistance to ADEI, and the importance of cultivating inclusive cultures within organizations.
Highlights from the panels include:
- Dr. Tabbye Chavous, Vice Provost for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Michigan, led a discussion on how a faculty recruitment program could further advance diversity. “Diversity is as interconnected with and essential to excellence,” she stated when explaining that diversity and academic excellence are not mutually exclusive.
- Dr. Nilanjana “Buju” Dasgupta, Psychology Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a past FABBS Board member, presented her work as the director of the Institute of Diversity Sciences (IDS), a community that brings together researchers from six colleges to address social problems and inequities within STEM. The mission of the IDS is to promote STEM, nurture historically marginalized communities, and connect scientific research to social justice.
- Dr. Ivuoma Onyeador from Northwestern University discussed her PIBBS article “Moving Beyond Implicit Bias Training: Policy Insights for Increasing Organizational Diversity,” emphasizing the need for policy-driven approaches beyond traditional bias training, and the role of institutions in addressing potential resistance from majority group members. She highlights the critical role of behavioral and social sciences in creating meaningful structural change.
On the second day, panelists discussed strategies for implementing systems to address gatekeeping and foster a sense of belonging. Dr. Karl Reid, Chief Inclusion Officer at Northern University, shared Northeastern University’s proactive approach in combating institutional inequality. The approach was a multilevel program that enforced responsibility on each department to improve feelings of belonging and inclusivity. Dr. Reid mentioned that the task of addressing inequality should not be left to one office or a single group of individuals; instead, it needs to be a collaborative effort from everyone at the institution.
Representatives from The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and National Science Foundation (NSF) emphasized the importance of funding organizations that advance ADEI in STEMM. Dr. James Moore, Assistant Director for the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU), delivered a powerful message, stating, “We’re going to lose a generation” when highlighting the urgency of funding for underrepresented communities. As a senior leader for EDU, he supports the advancement in STEM projects that focus on K-12, undergraduate, and graduate education.
Additionally, Marie Bernard, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD), offered invaluable insights. As a leader in the realm of scientific workforce diversity, Bernard highlighted the importance of ensuring that the full spectrum of talent is accessed to drive scientific creativity and innovation. She highlighted the need for focused efforts to address perceived gaps, seize opportunities, and prioritize initiatives aimed at advancing ADEI (Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) within STEMM organizations.
Since its release in February 2023, NASEM committee members and staff have led a variety of workshops and dissemination events for the report. Program Officer Dr. Emily Vargas stated that the report now ranks among the topmost viewed and downloaded among historic NASEM reports, an achievement given its relatively recent publication.
