The Board of the University Research Magazine Association condemns police brutality and stands in solidarity with those working against systemic racism and pushing for change. .
We acknowledge the pervasive racism underlying the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many other Black Americans year after year by police.
We in research communications have been complicit in reinforcing this racism by our actions or inaction. Insufficient diversity in our own profession weakens representation of Black researchers in the research we promote.
We as a Board commit to diversifying our membership and supporting professional development for Black research communicators by:
- Establishing two new travel grants for Black science communicators.
- Providing matching funding for an annual internship for a Black student focused on science communications at an URMA member institution.
- Offering anti-racist programs at our annual conference.
We urge our non-Black members to educate themselves and challenge anti-Blackness and other forms of prejudice in their work, hiring practices and work environments. First steps could include:Having the courage to ask tough questions about race in America, not being afraid of the answers you may receive, and understanding that one conversation will not serve to explain the multitude of experiences and traumas.
Listening with an open heart and mind, and being receptive to a broader understanding of a shared American experience that is different depending on the color of your skin.
Learning more about the history of racism in America. See Ibram X. Kendi’s Anti-Racist Reading List (It’s a long list. Plan how you’re going to tackle studying this over the long-term.)
Reading about the experiences of Black academics using the hashtags #BlackinIvory and #BlackintheIvory.
Suggesting your institution participate in an investigation to examine equity and inclusion in STEM such as the SEISMIC project.
Tracking the diversity of the sources quoted in your publications. Read about science journalist Ed Yong’s experience with this in The Atlantic:
Updating your house style guide with guidance from resources such as The Diversity Style Guide and Resolve Philly.
Learning about racism in science. Read Superior, Angela Saini’s recently published book on this topic, or Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century by Dorothy Roberts or The Social Life of DNA by Alondra Nelson.
Learning about systemic issues that lead to a lack of diversity in STEM. Read reports such as the American Institute of Physics’ The Time is Now: Systemic Changes to Increase African American Representation in Undergraduate Physics and Astronomy.
In addition, the National Association of Science Writers recommends:
- Knowing the context and history of racism in America as it relates to current events.
- Start by reading Ibram X. Kendi’s article “The American Nightmare” in The Atlantic.
- Being mindful that your reporting shapes public perception, whether you intend it to or not.
- Consider Danielle K. Kilgo’s piece “Riot or Resistance?” in The Conversation.
- Working to recognize implicit bias that influences your own mind and your reporting.
- Reflect on Issac Bailey’s article “How Implicit Bias Works in Journalism” in Nieman Reports. Consider word choice and the sociopolitical implications of metaphors, as described in Cynthia Taylor and Bryan M. Dewsbury’s “On the Problem and Promise of Metaphor Use in Science and Science Communication.”
- Listening. Be mindful of the trauma of systemic racism, bias, and microaggressions.
- Start with Patrice Peck’s recent piece “Black Journalists Are Exhausted” in The New York Times.
- Developing the skills to be an ally and address racism in your workplace and beyond.
- Consider these two pieces from the Diverse Voices series, a partnership between NASW’s Diversity Committee and The Open Notebook. Both offer insights for editors, managers, and co-workers: Jane Hu’s “Journalists of Color Face Harassment by Sources” and Kendra Pierre-Louis’ “Navigating Newsrooms as a Minority.”
- Watch an archived video of The Power Shift Project’s one-hour program on allyship for media professionals. Review this helpful list of resources from InclusiveSciComm.
- Talking with your friends and family about racism.
- Read Kathiann Kowalski’s Science News for Students article “Five Things Students Can Do About Racism.“
- Parents of young children, and those who write for children, may find the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s resource for teachers helpful.
It is not the responsibility of the Black members of our organization to educate the rest of us. However, we want our Black members to know that we are here to listen if there are experiences or suggestions you wish to share.
All URMA members, please share additional thoughts and resources with URMA President Catherine Zandonella at czandone@princeton.edu.
Black Lives Matter.