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Advancing Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM Organizations: A Consensus Study

Completed

An interdisciplinary committee of experts will develop a cohesive report with recommendations for actionable antiracist mechanisms to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. The final consensus report will review research and evidence in which racism and bias conditions create systemic barriers and impede STEM careers for historically marginalized racial/ethnic groups; identify principles for sustainable organizational culture change to address racism and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion; synthesize existing research on methods to improve recruitment, retention, and advancement; identify examples of effective strategies to advance anti-racism in STEM organizations; define a research agenda to address gaps to advance anti-racism, diversity/equity, and inclusion.

Description

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will appoint an interdisciplinary committee to review the literature on bias and racism in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM) workplaces; approaches to increase racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in STEM organizations (e.g., universities, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, and industry); and offer best policies and practices for DEI and anti-racism initiatives, as well as outline goals for relevant, future research and for organizational strategic planning. The committee's final consensus report will:

  • Review the research and evidence from lived experience on the ways in which racism (at the individual level and conditions that create systemic barriers) impedes STEMM careers for historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups;
  • Identify the principles for sustainable organizational culture change to address racism and promote DEI; including discussion of the role of training, ways to motivate buy-in at all levels of the STEMM organization, and stay the course in adopting a strategy and goals aimed at addressing racism and its role as a barrier to a STEM career;
  • Review and synthesize the existing research on methods to improve the recruitment, retention, and advancement of members of historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups pursuing STEMM careers; and identify promising policies and practices for changing existing systems and structures;
  • Identify examples of effective strategies to advance anti-racism in STEMM organizations, including roles for members within organizations; and
  • Define a research agenda to address gaps in knowledge in the evidence base to advance anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Collaborators

Committee

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Staff Officer

Sponsors

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Fred Kavli Endowment Fund

Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Heising-Simons Foundation

National Institutes of Health

National Science Foundation

Ralph J. Cicerone and Carol M. Cicerone Endowment for NAS Missions

Rita Allen Foundation

The Shanahan Family Charitable Foundation

Staff

Emily Vargas

Lead

Tina Winters

Lead

Jacqueline L. Cole

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