Our recent U.S. Presidential campaign and election have been proclaimed “historic” because of the gender and ethnic diversity of the candidates. In the world of chemistry, we’ve also seen historic demographic changes in recent years, especially in the presence of women in the workforce. Half of today’s undergraduates majoring in chemistry are women.
The percentage of chemists (and other scientists and engineers) who are members of under-represented minorities, however, is still woefully low. Scientific societies and professional associations are devoting considerable resources to advance the cause of diversity.
So, diversity is a good thing and it’s necessary. Right?
I must confess that I have been skeptical in the past. As a scientist, I want to see research results before I’m willing to give new ideas my full blessing. Show me the data!
Click here to see the rest of my article, published this week on the Careers Blog of the American Chemical Society (ACS).
