“A diverse and inclusive scientific workforce draws from the widest range of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences thereby maximising innovation and creativity in science for the benefit of humanity.”

“This collection of articles, a collaboration between Nature Research and Scientific American, focuses on the barriers faced by women and how they might be overcome, but also includes articles about the challenges encountered by other underrepresented groups in science.”

“A lack of diversity represents a loss of talent.”

“84% percent of working professionals currently in science and engineering jobs in the U.S are white or Asian males.”

“a team of like-minded engineers, mathematicians or scientists, all with the same backgrounds and who have faced similar challenges, will not be as effective as a team with diverse ways of thinking.”

“We outline here specific, potentially high-impact policy changes that build upon existing mechanisms for research funding and governance and that can be rapidly implemented to counteract barriers facing women in science.”

“While plenty of progress has been made over the past few decades, more efforts need undertaking to ensure a more equitable place for females in these traditionally male-dominated industries–a goal the following essentials share.”

“Girls and women are systematically tracked away from science and math throughout their educations, limiting their training and options to go into these fields as adults.”

“Blacks in STEM are about four times as likely as whites in STEM to say their workplace doesn’t pay enough attention to increasing racial and ethnic diversity.”

“just 2.7 percent of African Americans, 3.3 percent of Native Americans and Alaska Natives, and 2.2 percent of Hispanics and Latinos who are 24 years old have earned a first university degree in the natural sciences or engineering.”

“If the underrepresentation of minority groups in STEM fields perpetuates, ‘We’re not going to have scientists and medical practitioners who are responsive to those demographics,’ Lu said.”

“We emphasize that although racial minority students may seem to be left behind during college in STEM fields, the problem dates further back to pre‐college.”

“STEM retention is lower for men who identify as LGBQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer), while LGBQ women are actually more likely to persist in STEM than their heterosexual peers.”

“It’s exhausting for some people to have to separate their work and personal identities in such a way. What we found with our interviews is that if people could bring their whole selves to the workplace, without any sort of reservation, not only were they happier, but they did better work.”

“LGBTQ Scientists face workplace discrimination, lack of health services and infrastructure, harassment and assault, and other challenges, all of which can be compounded if they are part of other marginalized groups.”

“18% of scientists who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or from other sexual and gender minorities (LGBT+) said they had experienced harassment, bullying or exclusionary behaviour in the workplace. That figure rises to 32% for transgender people and those who don’t identify as either male or female (non-binary).”

“Even as students with disabilities are an increasing presence on campus, fewer of them persist to graduation relative to their peers without disabilities. And still fewer graduate with science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees.”

“One minority group in STEM that continues to be overlooked, even within strong and established programs, is youth who are disabled.”

No matter who you are or where you come from, we can all work together to make STEM a more diverse, inclusive community. Below are some ways you can make a difference

1. Amplify minority voices. Share information from minority news outlets, social media pages, blogs, and websites. Bring that information to your circle of influence.
2. Donate. Many of the websites I listed above have places for you to donate money. You can also donate your time by helping some of the initiatives such as writing a post for them.
3. Educate yourself. Read those books, news articles, and papers about diversity. Be willing to put yourself outside of your comfort zone to learn new things.
4. Start conversations. Share what you are learning with your circle of friends. Call out your colleagues who are not being inclusive. Be willing to stand for change.
5. Diversify your circle. Make the conscious effort to expand your circle of friends and colleagues to include more diversity. You can join new clubs, follow new pages on social media or blogs, or ask to be introduced to some of your friends’ friends.