Diversity in academia – from frustration to glimpse of hope

This week, the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) voted against a national action plan aiming for more diversity in higher education and academic research [1]. This national action plan has been established by the Ministry of Education and science organizations to foster diversity and inclusion in academia, notably by encouraging women and scientists with a migration background in research and education. Signed by multiple important Dutch organizations including the Dutch Research Council (NWO, which yearly invests almost 1 billion € in research), the Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences (KNAV), as well as the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VNSU), the action plan aims at anchoring more diversity in research and education with concrete actions and – if the progresses are not significant enough within five years – to consider the option for implementing quotas.

The national action plan led to a fierce debate in the House of Representatives. Among the arguments, some parties wondered what diversity has to do with quality in academia, how the effectiveness of the plan would be assessed, how to approach the different aspects of diversity and inclusion (i.e., gender bias versus migration origin), and what the relevance of diversity officers at universities is.

As a Western woman in science, I was torn between many thoughts when I read the reaction of the Dutch House. On one hand, and as previously expressed, my female genes are somewhat reluctant to strategies based on quotas or positive discrimination when it comes to gender-based discrimination. On the other hand… When I look around me at the university, when I look back at the previous positions I had in different Swiss and Dutch academic institutions, I would need to be blind and deaf not to see the deplorable lack of diversity in those institutions – and this at all levels, from students to professors. We cannot tolerate this anymore.

It is frustrating to see the Dutch House of Representatives showing a strong resistance towards such action plan. It is frustrating to see such initiatives being rejected, but even more frustrating not to see a strong support or commitment from the Parliament for more diversity in this country. It is frustrating to see this rejection without a suggestion for an alternative approach. It is extremely frustrating that such decisions are taken by a House of Representatives which includes only 18 Members of Parliament with a migration background (i.e., where at least one parent is born out of Netherlands) [2]. Eighteen Members of Parliament out of 150 – a mere 12 %. The “migration background”? Belgium, France, Ireland, Morocco, Turkey, and UK. How can we accept such a poorly diverse Parliament taking key decisions on diversity and inclusion in the Netherlands?

Whether we agree with the content of the national action plan or not, supporting diversity in academia is crucial. Supporting and taking action. As genuinely highlighted by the Rector of the VU Amsterdam Vinod Subramaniam, who presides the national advisory committee that has been established to evaluate the progress of the action plan [3]:

We need to go from ideas to action.

The Coalition of Black Mass Spectrometrists

A brilliant action fighting systemic racism in science is the Coalition of Black Mass Spectrometrists, which I have discovered in the November 2020 issue of the magazine The Analytical Scientist [4]. Earlier this autumn, I was already excited to see their Power List 2020, which, this year, celebrated analytical talents from all round the globe – not only focusing on North American and European analytical scientists [5]. The November issue highlighted that only 13.4% of first-year college students in the US and a mere 1.6% of the Professors at top US institutes are Black, respectively. These numbers highlight again the need for initiatives fostering a better diversity in research, such as the Coalition of Black Mass Spectrometrists. This Coalition, founded by Candice Ulmer, Michelle Reid, and Christina Jones during the 66th American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference in San Diego (originally under the name Black People Meet @ ASMS), provides a framework for networking for Black mass spectrometrists and a space for discussion around racism, offering a platform to drive positive changes. Among the planned actions of the Coalition: provide suggestions for more diverse speaker line-ups and create space to foster career opportunities in academic and industrial environments. The Coalition is an initiative that goes beyond diversity, as bringing scientists together can also significantly prompt analytical research that can benefit the community and the society as a whole.

My two take-home messages from this article, which nicely reflect the actions I can take as a White female researcher?

First, there is a lot we can do as individual, as underlined by Dr. Christina Jones [6]:

Be an advocate for people – make sure Black people are considered for the same opportunities and speak up if someone is being overlooked. Some people will say these are small actions, but they can really make a difference.

Second, mentoring should not be undervalued. Prof. Isiah Warner, from Louisiana State University [7]:

My own focus is on the importance of mentoring. There are still people in this field that are not getting the same opportunities as others based on whether they are from a minority group or not. It’s vital that these people have mentors that can help them navigate the system and reach their goals. These mentors don’t need to be Black or from the same background as you – they just need to be able to empathize.

From frustration to glimpse of hope.

We need to go from ideas to action.

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[1] Erasmus Magazine, Dutch House of Representatives torpedoes plans for diversity in higher education. https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2020/12/03/dutch-house-of-representatives-torpedoes-plans-for-diversity-in-higher-education/ (accessed 06-12-2020).

[2] Parlement.com, Afkomst Tweede Kamerleden. https://www.parlement.com/id/vk6gbgxlvuxs/afkomst_tweede_kamerleden (accessed 06-12-2020).

[3] Erasmus Magazine, National action plan should ensure greater diversity and social security. https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2020/09/03/national-action-plan-should-ensure-greater-diversity-and-social-security/?noredirect=en_US (accessed 06-12-2020).

[4] The Analytical Scientist, Holding a Mirror to Analytical Science. https://theanalyticalscientist.com/business-education/holding-a-mirror-to-analytical-science (accessed 06-12-2020).

[5] The Analytical Scientist, The Power List 2020 - Around the World in 60 Scientists. https://theanalyticalscientist.com/power-list/2020 (accessed 06-12-2020).

[6] The Analytical Scientist, A network for progress. https://theanalyticalscientist.com/business-education/a-network-for-progress (accessed 06-12-2020).

[7] The Analytical Scientist, Mastering Mentoring. https://theanalyticalscientist.com/business-education/mastering-mentorship (accessed 06-12-2020).