We are all of the same starstuff

The recent Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Symposium in Brisbane bought together experts from around the country to address the gender and cultural barriers that we see in the STEMM sector. The symposium focused on implementing practical solutions to help deliver greater diversity and inclusivity within our sector.

I was honoured to be invited to speak at this event on why diversity in science is good for science and good for you, regardless of who you are. And I’d like to share these thoughts here.

I was humbled to be addressing the Symposium, especially as I haven’t earned the right to be there speaking about diversity. As a cisgender straight white male, every struggle I have ever had has been easier simply because of that fact.

It is a privilege and I recognise the unfairness of it. This inherent unfairness is part of my motivation to improve equity in science. But it is not the only motivation, I am also benefiting by greater diversity and inclusivity too. And as any good communication textbook will tell you – to drive change, appeal to self-interest.

Simply put, diversity and inclusivity makes for a better working environment for everyone, myself included! I am championing diversity because I know exactly what happens in science meetings when there’s only people like me in a room - and stop me if this sounds familiar: Discussions are more heated, positions are defended at all costs, chests get beaten.

The environment is less pleasant for all. And importantly for science, it’s also less productive.

Diversity of experience, brings diversity of thought and the best science comes from the competition between, and synthesis of, diverse new ideas. Diversity, equity and inclusivity are the very foundations of science.

To accept an environment in which ideas cannot be heard because the people bringing those new ideas have been marginalised, driven out or even discouraged from being there at all is the very antithesis of science.

As highlighted by the Harvard Business Review’s Why Diverse Teams are Smarter facts are considered more carefully, relevant questions are asked more consistently and potentially damaging assumptions are challenged more frequently in a diverse team.

To be a champion of science then you must also be a champion of diversity in science.

It’s not just about having diversity of ideas in the laboratory. A diversity of background that reflects our community enables a research team to better understand, work alongside and aid the very community it serves.

Most of us work in institutions that teach as well as research, and there too diversity is invaluable. Where businesses have customers, universities have students. And diversity in the lecture theatre will better resonate with those students.

This wide-ranging value of diversity is as true in academia as it is in the business world, it’s just easier to put a dollar value to it in a corporation. Which is exactly what consulting firm McKinsey & Company did in Why Diversity Matters, finding companies in the top quartile for ethnic and racial diversity posted financial returns 35% greater than the industry median.

With data collected under SAGE it may be possible to assign a comparative dollar value to diversity in teaching with increased student enrolment and retention. Money talks. As that good communication textbook will tell you - know your audience, and for some audiences money really talks.

Visible diversity in the lecture theatre is doubly important as our staff act as role models. Simply put, it’s hard to aspire to a goal you can’t see.

I would have more students, from all backgrounds, find their way into STEMM but to increase these numbers we need those role models visible long before university. Indeed perhaps even long before school.

I have spoken to many thousands of students of all ages and in my experience the gender identification of STEMM roles is well in place by secondary school. Some studies have shown that occupational aspirations are broadly fixed along gender lines in students aged just four to five.

How do we reach out to students both at, and even before, school and let them know that they belong in STEMM? Changing this perception in society is an enormous challenge but surely it would help if we had greater numbers of diverse role models visible within that society?

As a member of the Science & Technology Australia (STA) executive I couldn’t be prouder of our CEO Kylie Walker’s efforts to bring the Superstars of STEM initiative to life. Out of hundreds of outstanding applicants, 30 incredible female scientists were selected to become media stars all while continuing as fantastic researchers.

Over the course of this year they are undertaking a series of workshops in advanced communication techniques delivered by a range of experts. Alongside the training are the opportunities to use their new skills in facilitated networking events with leaders in science, government, business and media.

So adhering to another key lesson from the communication textbook I will finish on time, with this final summary to people like me. Diversity is good for you, good for your science and good for your society. If you champion that equity, diversity and inclusivity then those good outcomes are your reward, don’t expect more.