Speakers
Description
Good science is more than rigid methodology, solid statistical analyses and transparency. It’s about people, the systems they operate in and the history that shaped them. Increasingly, researchers are striving to make science more equitable, diverse and inclusive. But changing the workplace and academia on a day-to-day basis is an ongoing challenge. In this workshop, we will highlight key equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) issues that scientists
face in their working life to increase awareness. Next, we will discuss different ways in which common EDI issues can be addressed. Meaningful solutions often require understanding the root of the problem: from the historical marginalization of certain identities, to self-reflection of your own cultural background, and an understanding of biased systemic structures. We will demonstrate how researchers at any career stage can rethink science through an EDI lens and facilitate critical thinking among participants to put the materials to practice by discussing solutions to these problems.
About:
Rebecca Chen [she/her] is a molecular and behavioural ecologist, currently finishing her PhD at Bielefeld University. She uses genomic and epigenetic tools to understand the proximate mechanisms shaping fitness variation in wild animals. In her PhD, she predicted deleterious mutations in black grouse to understand the genetic architecture of fitness traits, inbreeding depression, purging and the honesty of sexual traits. Over the years, she’s become more interested in open science practices, addressing justice, equity, diversity and inclusivity issues in academia, and finding other ways of improving science.
Ane Liv Berthelsen [she/her] is a final year PhD student in molecular ecology at the Evolutionary Population Genetics group at Bielefeld University, Germany. Her work aims at disentangling phenotypic trait variation in Antarctic fur seals and exploring the effects of density on pup development using image-based, physiological and transcriptomic data. She is further interested in finding sustainable solutions, implementing open science practices, and advocating for equity, diversity and inclusivity in Academia. In her personal life, she tests her physical limits on the bouldering wall and enjoys reading a good book. She probably holds a record of daily black tea consumption.
