Skip to main content


“Science has had enormous trouble building a workforce that reflects the public it serves. And now, numerous state governments are trying to make it more difficult, if not impossible, at the public universities in their states & even within the scientific community, there are efforts to derail the idea that it matters who does science.”

https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/it-matters-who-does-science #science

This entry was edited (1 year ago)
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Yes — science should be diverse.

But, this article is remiss to start at the university level.
Public school funding “.”

Can New York City truly claim high ground when its top performing high schools have only 11% students who are black or Hispanic (while the district as a whole is 66% black and Hispanic)?

Quality education starts well before college and university.

Its why the intern programs I mentor in now have high school teachers and kids. Wish I could do middle school, too.

in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

Of course it matters who does science!

Oppression has been one of the largest obstacles to human and planetary well being.

Yet fields of study that DIRECTLY study oppression itself have had to battle...oppression...to be seen as "legitimate" by privileged folks.

All of the "great" historical thinkers about power have been ...highly privileged white men... to think this hasn't hindered the entire field is to be utterly blind!

in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

This article missed the whole issue of which projects are chosen for research and which are funded. These decisions are strongly influenced by the background and culture of scientists making the decisions.
in reply to Sheril Kirshenbaum

is it science's job to serve th public? Interesting question! Is it an artist's job to serve th public?

Is th purpose of public funding to GET A RETURN on that funding or just to allow our fellows to pursue their drwams?

I find these questions interesting

Lo, thar be cookies on this site to keep track of your login. By clicking 'okay', you are CONSENTING to this.