Protecting scientific diversity

By Richard B. Primack

“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” 

-Henry David Thoreau in Walden

In a recent paper in Nature Ecology and Evolution, we argue that the scientific leadership needs to include diversity, equity, and inclusion as an important focus in all COVID-19-related recovery efforts. Decades of efforts to build an inclusive scientific community have raised awareness of the need to promote diversity in academic workplaces, but this goal is far from being achieved and is put at risk by the pandemic. 

Communities historically underrepresented in the fields of conservation, ecology, and environmental sciences, including minorities of all genders, women, researchers from the Global South, and people with disabilities, are especially vulnerable during these times. We also need to actively support the retention and diversity of early-career scientists during and after COVID-19.

Fig. 1 | We highlight key actions in the workplace, community, and policy arena that academic leadership can carry out to protect and improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the scientific workplace during and after the current pandemic crisis.  Credit: Rejane Santos-Silva @rejsantossilva