Abstract
The demographic profile of the scientific and biomedical workforce in the United States does not reflect the population at large (https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsf21321/data-tables; www.census.gov), raising concerns that there will be too few trained researchers in the future, the scope of research interests will not be broad enough, gaps in equity and social justice will continue to increase, and the safeguards to the integrity of the scientific enterprise could be jeopardized. To diversify the pool of scientists, the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) developed the Choose Development! Program—a two-summer immersion for undergraduate students belonging to underrepresented (UR) populations in STEM to join the research laboratory of an established SDB member. This research-intensive experience was augmented by a multi-tier mentoring plan for each student, society-wide recognition, professional development activities and networking at national meetings. The strengths of the Choose Development! Program were leveraged to expand inclusion and outreach at the Society’s leadership level, the Board of Directors (BOD), which then led to significant changes that impacted the SDB community. The cumulative outcomes of the Choose Development! Program provides evidence that community-based, long-term advocacy, and mentoring of young UR scientists is successful in retaining UR students in scientific career paths and making a scientific society more inclusive.
Highlights
It is not news that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines are severely lacking wide representation from people belonging to non-White, ethnic and cultural groups of scientists (Tilghman et al, 2021)
A voluntary survey of its membership in 2013 showed that individuals belonging to UR groups—Hispanic/LatinX, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native made up only about 10% of the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) compared to 45.11% of the UnitedStates population (Table 1.2 in NCES Report, 2019)
The drive to meet this goal led to the development of a comprehensive program called Choose Development!, which was established with funding by the National Science Foundation from 2013 to 2017
Summary
It is not news that Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines are severely lacking wide representation from people belonging to non-White, ethnic and cultural groups of scientists (Tilghman et al, 2021). Because values play an inevitable role, increased efforts to safeguard against current and future undetected biases leading to erroneous theories necessitates a scientific community with a rigorous peer review process that allows for criticisms and corrections influenced by differences in disciplinary experience as well as cultural and social viewpoints that comprise a diverse community of scientists within peer review groups. Professional societies organize and sponsor conferences that allow scientists to present their findings, vet new scientific ideas, and challenge those that are not sufficiently supported by evidence These venues are invaluable platforms for all attendees to expand their disciplinary knowledge, meet, interact and form new professional networks, and create opportunities to pursue new scientific questions. The representation of Whites, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, and persons with disabilities working in STEM fields (68.45, 0.28 and 12.78%, respectively) was greater or somewhat closer to their representation in the country (60. 11, 0.18 and 13.2%) than Hispanic/Latinos, Black/African Americans or American Indian/Alaska Natives
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