Launch App

The Problem

The lack of inclusivity and accessibility for BIPOC and women in STEM drives them away from doing work in science. This is caused by the unwelcoming environments that predominantly white institutions create that do not allow diversity to thrive. It leaves the responsibility of sustaining inclusion to BIPOC and women when the problem is that white people do not welcome them into these spaces. The lack of diversity among the STEM field harms people of color and women and discourages them from entering and studying science, a developing field that is requesting more people to join because of the advancement of technology and research. Many institutions claim diversity by raking in numbers of minorities, however, they often leave when the spaces do not cater to them because the unwelcoming nature and lack of resources drives them away from pursuing a STEM career.

The Solution

As a growing field, institutions should allow the minority to help expand research by showing more women and BIPOC in STEM while also giving them accessible education and opportunities in schools and institutions directly in their communities and cities. This can be done by having conversations about what a welcoming environment should look like and providing resources for BIPOC and women to succeed. BIPOC and women should feel like they belong in those spaces and are not just being used as a scapegoat for diversity in an institution. Predominantly white institutions should not rely on bringing in minorities to save the diversity and inclusion issue, but instead should create welcoming spaces that will help them thrive in an environment that would typically reject them. This moves the responsibility of inclusion off of the minorities.

Adira Ahmad Rizal

Hi! My name is Adira (she/her) and I am passionate about science and social justice. For the past four years, I have been a part of the EVOLUTIONS Afterschool Program at the Yale Peabody Museum, which I have participated in since my freshman year. This program exposed me to science and helped me discover my passions in ecology and paleontology. The "EVO" program at the Peabody Museum opened up opportunities such as a job as a museum interpreter, an internship at the entomology collections lab, and an exhibit creator. These experiences gave me exposure to more science and made me realize that I want to pursue a STEM major and career in the future.