Image: Thinkstock
Ehstoday 2253 Biomedical

The Science of Diversity

Sept. 21, 2015
NIH recognizes the lack of diversity in the U.S. biomedical research workforce as “a scientific opportunity rather than as an intractable problem.”

The National Institutes of Health are putting the scientific workforce’s diversity problem in terms that profession understands.

NIH recognizes the lack of diversity in the U.S. biomedical research workforce as “a scientific opportunity rather than as an intractable problem.”

In a recent piece, NIH Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity Hannah Valantine and NIH Director Francis S. Collins referred to diversity in the field as “a research challenge that can be pursued through the scientific method.”

The authors see creating a more diverse biomedical community as a way to better capture the intellectual ability of the country.

Collins and Valantine identify four challenges facing this effort:

  1. The impact of scientific workforce diversity on the quality and outputs of biomedical research itself;
  2. Evidence-based approaches to recruitment, retention, and career advancement;
  3. Psychosocial factors like unconscious bias and stereotype threat that influence who joins biomedicine and who leaves;
  4. Scalable strategies to disseminate and sustain scientific workforce diversity nationwide for the long term.

The full piece can be read on PNAS.

Sponsored Recommendations

ISO 45001: Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems (OHSMS)

March 28, 2024
ISO 45001 certification – reduce your organizational risk and promote occupational health and safety (OHS) by working with SGS to achieve certification or migrate to the new standard...

Want to Verify your GHG Emissions Inventory?

March 28, 2024
With the increased focus on climate change, measuring your organization’s carbon footprint is an important first action step. Our Green House Gas (GHG) verification services provide...

Download Free ESG White Paper

March 28, 2024
The Rise and Challenges of ESG – Your Journey to Enhanced Sustainability, Brand and Investor Potential

Free Webinar: Mining & ESG: The Sustainability Mandate

March 28, 2024
Participants in this webinar will understand the business drivers and challenges of ESG and sustainability performance, the 5 steps of the ESG and sustainability cycle, and prioritized...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EHS Today, create an account today!