Justice

Three major features of modern society prohibit the oft-stated goal of universities in achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion: 1) an economic system that prioritizes ruthless competition over compassionate cooperation, that is intrinsically exploitative and generates gross poverty alongside incredible wealth; 2) a cultural and historical system, baked into our political system at every level, of white supremacy; and 3) a deep-rooted cultural prejudice against those who do not conform to gender or sexual norms. 

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Despite excess posturing, universities appear unwilling to address these core issues, instead indulging in performative action that seeks to tokenize these issues as liberal dog-whistles instead of being seriously willing to dissolve them. 

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Direct vs. Performative Action

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It's time for scientists to walk out of the classroom and labs and into the streets. While discussion forums, reading-groups, and seminars are important educational components, we have a moral duty to direct action.

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I have tried to live by the code of direct action – that when confronted by injustice, it's inadequate to merely discuss it. We must actively stop it. This may make us uncomfortable – confrontation is frightening for many of us, and we fear losing our jobs, being held-back from raises or promotions. But we should never forget that fear is the great mind killer. 

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People of color and those in the LGBTQ+ community have faced these same fears for hundreds of years just for existing. 

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A philosophy of direct action requires solidarity – at universities across the country, graduate students are unionizing and striking for living wages, access to gender-affirming care, access to childcare subsidies, etc. If we, professional scientists and researchers, truly believe in the cause for diversity, equity, and inclusion, then we should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in solidarity. 

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As an undergraduate, I served with the Democratic Socialists of America to campaign for healthcare reform, minimum wage increases, housing subsidies, and free college education. During my time in graduate school, I fought against the administration that sought to strip graduate students of their stipends and tuition waivers after four years by starting a petition signed by over a hundred students and faculty. I marched for science education in response to then-president Donald Trump's claim that climate change was a hoax. I also rallied with nearly a thousand protestors against the white supremacist Richard Spencer who was invited to speak at Texas A&M in December 2017. As a postdoc, I have supported the Graduate Employees' Organization (GEO), a graduate student union that struck in 2023 for a living wage, childcare subsidy reforms, access to gender-affirming care, and for funding for an unarmed community-response group to replace the campus police force. 

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Diversity Improves Science

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Science is a social institution – it belongs to each and every one of us, and it is made better when a diversity of lived experiences and backgrounds come together to solve a problem. This requires establishing a lab environment in which people feel safe. Feeling safe is not just about lab culture, it's about economic security, advocacy, and emotional support. 

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"White liberals are always saying, 'What can we do?' I mean, they’re always coming to help black people. I thought of an analogy. If you were walking down the street and a man had a gun on another man... The only way I could help is either to get a gun and shoot the man with the gun, or take the gun away from him – join the fellow who doesn’t have a gun and both of us gang up on the man with the gun. But white liberals never do that. When the man has the gun, they walk around him and they come to the victim, and they say 'Let me help you,' and what they mean is 'help you adjust to the situation with the man who has the gun on you.'"

–Stokley Carmichael