Redefining Diversity in Science
There is a lot of discussion in science right now about diversity (though not nearly enough). I’d like to focus today on, 1) how I define diversity and 2) what diversity does for science.
There is a lot of discussion in science right now about diversity (though not nearly enough). I’d like to focus today on, 1) how I define diversity and 2) what diversity does for science.
In a previous post, I talked about academia not being designed for people who have depression, anxiety, etc to succeed. I also spent some time talking about imposter syndrome. This particular post is the first in a series about careers other than being a research advisor (PI) or even being a researcher in industry. Part 1 in a 3 part series.
When people hear about my art life, they always say “Wow, that’s a big jump. How did you move from art to science?”
My answer is usually simple, “They are the same thing, and I think the best scientists have amazing creativity.”
I was talking to my advisor that day about these vague plans of mine, and he said something along the lines of “Don’t discount doing research. There aren’t enough researchers who think about science like you do. Think about becoming a PI.” I did think about that, and it became my new plan. But did I really understand what being a PI meant?
When I was in film school, I remember one class being asked “Why do we make films?” and hearing many different responses. “But what about the audience?” my film professor asked. Many of the students in the class were baffled. They had never thought about important it was to effectively communicate their vision to the audience.
“Race doesn’t exist.” I remember the first time I heard this. I was in my evolution class in undergrad. My professor pulled up a picture of two subspecies of bird. They looked exactly alike, and my professor mentioned that there is less genetic diversity between humans than between these two identical looking subspecies of bird. Then…
That Profound Moment I was late that morning to the Precision Health Symposium, having slept in and missed my train, but the first speaker was still talking when I arrived. Instead of pushing my way around round tables that didn’t quite make sense for a day of presentations, I chose to stand at the back…
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