Dr Merryn McKinnon, Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National University.

Thinking about ecological sciences always sends me back to my undergraduate days in marine science where I was typically found with my nose in a rock pool or scouring rock platforms. The diversity and richness of these environments fascinated me, and still do today. 

I left behind marine science fairly early on, lured by science communication which resonated more deeply with the conservation goals I held. I wanted to make people care about the places around us. I learned early on that the best way to do that is to talk to people about them, find out what they value about these places and use that common ground as a platform to encourage action. 

I still find myself fascinated by how things fit together, and over the last five years I’ve been looking more deeply at how our scientific ecosystem fits together. Or rather, where there are gaps and missed opportunities. And now I am talking to people about our own places, what we value and how we can encourage action together. 

Over the last five years in particular there has been an increased focus on how we are losing talent and diversity in the Australian STEM workforce, especially at the leadership level. This is typically shown through the scissor graph, but we are losing talent at all career stages – even from the outset. 

It begins in childhood – have a look at the toy section in any store. There are two distinctly gendered sections. You’ll see a difference in packaging colour, and then what’s inside those packages, which often reinforces societal norms of what certain genders ‘should’ do. This can send powerful messages to children about what they ‘should’ be interested in at school and as a career.

The way scientists are portrayed in popular fiction and in media tends to show a stereotypical demographic. The face of Australian science tends to be portrayed as white and male. For aspiring scientists, engineers and researchers in our diverse society, it may be difficult to see someone who looks like they do. 

Even if they persevere, the actual environment of some of our scientific disciplines and organisations can be challenging, or downright destructive. We can list all of the issues leading to the loss of diversity in science. They’re not new and they’re no longer surprising. But can we also list the many, myriad ways we can all be part of the solution?

You may feel that your workplace is great – totally inclusive and supportive. If so, terrific for you! But just as some species will thrive in certain conditions, it is not necessarily the same for all. This requires us to bring our fieldwork skills into our workplace; listening, observing, measuring. This may mean changing the way we do things. These changes can be small and simple, but the impact profound.

It can be displaying the rainbow flag, calling out inappropriate language or behaviour, reaching out as a supportive colleague. It can be offering to take someone in the early stages of their career with you on an opportunity to submit a grant, write a paper, do an interview or a public talk. Especially those who may not have the same access to the networks they need to progress. 

It can be actively seeking out new partners and collaborators – even just one – and not staying in the relative comfort of those you know. Try to work with people of different ages, career stages, cultural backgrounds and identities. If they don’t exist in your workplace then help hire them. Be an advocate.

If you don’t know what you can do, start by watching and listening. How many times are some members in your workplace silenced, dismissed, excluded or overlooked? You may need to watch and listen carefully – sometimes it’s subtle. And it may not even be an action the perpetrator is conscious of doing. But for the person on the receiving end, it is like a persistent and recurring wound that never heals. Having someone reach out to support them, publicly or privately, could make a big difference to their wellbeing.

For us to do the best science, we need the best people. Getting the best people starts with us actively working to find, and keep, them. 

This benefits everyone.

Image: Seeking out others you wouldn’t usually work with can lead to new and exciting partnerships! This juvenile gentoo saw an opportunity for somewhere comfy to nap. Credit: Dr Valerie Sage.

*This article first appeared in the ESA Bulletin September 2021