Skromne Lab statement on STEM and BLACKS LIVES MATTER
Statement by Minorities In Sciences Together (MIST) group at the University of Richmond
To anyone's families, friends, or communities who have been undeservingly affected by recent and past racially motivated murders and the devastating COVID-19 virus, we stand with you and send you our prayers, well wishes, and support.
It is not sufficient to merely express sorrow. For those of us who are privileged enough to not be living in oppressive situations on a daily basis, this is a time to use our privilege to educate ourselves, educate others, and fight as allies alongside those who have been affected. This should be happening all the time, but if you need a place to start, use these events to catalyze action. For those of us who are living these experiences and continuously fighting for our voices to be heard and rights to be upheld, let's keep up the tireless, endless, and thankless fight in hopes those who are more privileged will join and share the burden.
1. Racism in Science: the taint that lingers Nature, Robin Nelson
2. The Disturbing Resilience of Scientific Racism Smithsonian, Ramin Skibba
3. LGBTQ scientists are still left out Nature, Jon Freeman
4. Women and science careers: leaky pipeline or gender filter? Gender and Education, Jacob Blickenstaff
5. Race in Biological and Biomedical Research Cold Springs Harbor Perspectives in Medicine, Richard Cooper
6. Proud to be Different in STEM, Science News for Students, Bryan Nelson
More than ever, it is necessary to meld conversations about racial injustice, sexism, and LGBTQIA+ rights with discussions of the past, present, and future of STEM. Please visit the following organization to learn how STEM can make a difference #SACNAS #ShutDownAcademica #ShutDownSTEM #AAAS
Here are some suggestions for readings if you need a place to begin more deeply understanding how society and science are one and the same.
(Click on book titles to be referred to a new page)
Books
1. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks Rebecca Skloot
2. Between the World and Me Ta-Nehisi Coates
3. Superior: The Return of Race Science Angela Saini
4. Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong... Angela Saini
5. What the Eye's Don't See Mona Hanna-Attisha
6. Guns, Germs, and Steele Jared Diamond
7. Doctors from Hell: The Horrific Account of Nazi Experiment