December, 2018
DR. VALANTINE'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Hannah A. Valantine, MD
Chief Officer for Scientific Workforce Diversity
As 2018 winds down, I am struck by how many ways workforce diversity enriches our daily lives. Yet, I can’t also help but wonder how much more we could accomplish if we could achieve true workplace equity. In this issue, read about how individuals are making a difference – such as the new NIH Distinguished Scholars as well as data scientists thinking out of the box to use AI to break down health inequities. Happy New Year!
Discovery Needs Diversity
“Science provides a universal language,” “Strategies may be overlooked if a team is too homogenous,” and “Differences aren’t something to be fixed” are a few of many thoughts expressed by the inaugural class of NIH’s Distinguished Scholars Program, a new NIH program aiming to build a more inclusive NIH. Read their stories to see how these 13 individuals embrace diversity and inclusion every day.
Self-Efficacy Key to Grant Submission
NIH funding is the currency of success for biomedicine, but obtaining a research grant remains elusive for many. A new study analyzed data from 190 diverse biomedical trainees who took part in National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) grantsmanship training. The findings show that, for every one‐point increase in a mean self-efficacy score, the odds of submitting a grant 6 months after training increased by 69%. NRMN is one of three components of the NIH-funded Diversity Program Consortium (read the December 2018 DPC newsletter).
Honest Reflections from Scientist Dads
In this essay collection, five fathers describe how they and their partners combine parenting and careers. Key themes include shared responsibility, embracing (and actually using) flexibility policies, and organizing work days with your partner. As is saying no to work. “I wanted to attend [my daughter’s] concert, but also to deliver a lecture. My colleague stepped in and her wonderful lecture was much better than the one I would have given … and I got to see [my daughter] perform.”
AI: A New Frontier for Diversity
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is arguably the biggest game-changer in our world today. AI already affects daily life immeasurably, through smart-device virtual assistants, package-delivery algorithms, financial fraud alert systems, reading and analyzing health scans, and many others. Yet machines are only as effective as the humans that design them, and diversity of experiences will be key to reaping the full benefits of AI applications. Check out how diverse scientists are diving into AI with support from major tech companies.
The links above are pulled from the top news articles trending on the subject of diversity in science and technology.
The stories selected are not a reflection of the views of the National Institutes of Health.