Cultivating diversity as an ethos with an anti-racism approach in the scientific enterprise
Shameka P. Thomas,
Kiana Amini,
K. Jameson Floyd,
Rachele Willard,
Faeben Wossenseged,
Madison Keller,
Jamil B. Scott,
Khadijah E. Abdallah,
Ashley Buscetta,
Vence L. Bonham
Affiliations
Shameka P. Thomas
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Corresponding author
Kiana Amini
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
K. Jameson Floyd
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Rachele Willard
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Faeben Wossenseged
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Madison Keller
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Jamil B. Scott
Office of the Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Khadijah E. Abdallah
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Ashley Buscetta
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
Vence L. Bonham
Social and Behavioral Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Corresponding author
Summary: The diversity of the U.S. population is currently not reflected in the genomic workforce and across the greater scientific enterprise. Although diversity and inclusion efforts have focused on increasing the number of individuals from underrepresented groups across scientific fields, structural racism remains. Thus, the cultivation and adoption of diversity as an ethos requires shifting our focus to being intentional about an institution’s character, culture, and climate. One way for this ethos to be sustained is by facilitating an intentional anti-racism approach within the field. Adopting a new perspective on diversity utilizing an anti-racism approach will support genomics researchers as we build supportive, collaborative research environments. We seek to expand critical thought in the framing of diversity in the research enterprise and propose an anti-racism approach that informs deliberate actions required to address structural racism.
