On Episode 11 of the Academic Survival Podcast, I have an inspiring conversation with Astrophysicist Jessica A. Harris who has dedicated her career to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM fields. She shares her journey from struggling with math as a child to contributing to the James Webb Space Telescope project and mentoring underrepresented students in STEM. Listeners will learn about the importance of diverse perspectives in STEM fields, the impact of systemic racism, and the emotional labor involved in the field. This blog post was inspired by her interview.
Representation is essential in STEM fields and has far-reaching implications that go beyond just diversity and inclusion. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields are among the most crucial areas in our society today, and they hold the potential to provide solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems. And yet, STEM fields still struggle with a lack of diversity, with groups like minorities and women being underrepresented.
Having representation in STEM fields contributes to diversity of thought. People bring different experiences, skills, and perspectives to the table, which can foster innovation and creativity. Different perspectives allow for new and original ideas to emerge, while bringing new solutions to challenging problems. If everyone in a field comes from the same background, it can lead to limited thinking, a lack of innovation, and the potential for serious blind spots. Being exposed to different viewpoints, problem-solving strategies, and styles of communication can help to create stronger solutions and more efficient outcomes.
Moreover, representation matters because it allows for more role models in STEM fields. People who can envision themselves in a given field are more likely to pursue it. When students see people who look like them, come from similar cultures, and have similar experiences, they are more likely to see themselves as capable of achieving similar feats. Equipping our professional teams with diverse and representative role models allows younger generations to see people they can admire and aspire to be like, helping bridge the gap toward a more inclusive future.
Representation in STEM fields also provides a solution to the problem of systemic inequality. Due to systemic racism, people of color have faced a historic underinvestment in education and career opportunities. When we promote representation in STEM fields, we can work toward remedying this problem while simultaneously facilitating a more effective and productive economy.
By promoting representation in STEM fields, we improve reactions to customer needs. Ultimately, if we want to improve our ability to serve customers – a core part of our economy – we need to have a more diverse group of people designing products, analyzing data, and creating solutions. When diverse groups of people come forward to solve a particular problem or propose alternative solutions, they could account for more customer experiences, which can lead to inclusive and well-rounded results.
In conclusion, representation matters significantly in STEM fields. Investing in diversity and representation can lead to new and innovative solutions that we might never have discovered without diverse minds. It is important to make sure that everyone has the opportunities and role models necessary to pursue a career in STEM. Diverse teams lead to superior outcomes, which can benefit us all.
