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DEFINING DEI

DEI has been in the news a lot in the last week and it has been blamed for a variety of things recently, but I think it’s important to take a step back and truly define what it is. I’ll break it down into it’s 3 parts and I’ll add a fourth one as well that I think is even more critical.

First one is Diversity, promoting environments that cater to all people regardless of backgrounds. The first place people like to go to is race or nationality, but it extends beyond this to age, sexual orientation, gender, and the list goes on.

Second one is Equity, it’s righting the wrongs and systems that have prevented underrepresented people to participate in various areas. Keep in mind that this may have been unintentional but that doesn’t negate its effects and there’s several studies that dive into this that can be discovered with a quick Google search.

Third one is Inclusion and this is having a voice in when decisions are made. Many times decisions are made in haste that don’t consider how it can affect several different groups of people. It’s not always purposefully directed to making people feel bad but we need to challenge our biases because it causes us to take shortcuts that are not beneficial to creating a better world for everyone. This is where unconcious bias training is critical.

The bonus one I will mention is Belonging and this is really what DEI is trying to promote if done correctly. It’s the feeling that you can be yourself in your environment without fear of judgement.

There’s an analogy I’ve heard that says Diversity is being invited to the dance, Inclusion is being asked to dance, Equity is that they’re playing my music. I would add that Belonging is being free of judgement in how you dance to that music. This is what DEI&B should look like.

From what many have observed, a lot of companies and the government newly started to promote DEI or champion it more openly to save face in the wake of the cruel murder of George Floyd in 2020. However, not much was done to understand how to really foster a culture of belonging and I think this is where many DEI programs fall short and why some believe that “DEI doesn’t work” or “isn’t based on meritocracy”. This is far from the truth and legacy systems and nepotism not being challenged as well says a lot about what people think “merit” looks like without digging into any data.

This week’s episode dives a little in the why of DEI and also how to balance your professional and personal life effectively. The funny thing is that this episode was recorded almost 2 weeks before Christmas last year before the recent happenings, but I think it’s more timely than ever!

Click the button below to see all the ways to stream or click the link to watch on YouTube!

MORE DETAILS ABOUT EPISODE

In this conversation, Dr. Carmen Banks shares her journey as a senior scientist. She is also the founder of Melanin Science, an organization dedicated to increasing representation of Black and Brown individuals in STEM fields. She discusses her work in cultivated meat and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in science. The conversation explores her career path, the mission of Melanin Science, and the future of cultivated meat, emphasizing the need for mentorship and resources for underrepresented students in science. In this conversation, Dr. Carmen Banks discusses her journey in science, the importance of mentorship, and the challenges of balancing work and personal life. She emphasizes the need for authentic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the workplace and shares her experiences with her side project, Melanin Science. The discussion also touches on the significance of self-care and reflection in achieving personal and professional growth.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM EPISODE

• Melanin Science focuses on exposure, engagement, and professional development.

• Students often lack awareness of diverse career paths in science.

• Carmen's journey into science was influenced by her curiosity and experiences.

• Saying yes to opportunities can lead to unexpected career paths.

• Cultivated meat is grown from animal cells, not plant-based.

• The process of cultivated meat production is similar to brewing beer.

• Melanin Science's STEM Connect program aims to empower students.

• Staying open to opportunities can lead to unexpected paths.

• Self-reflection helps in recognizing personal achievements.

• Work should be compensated fairly, especially in DEI roles.

• Finding a work-life balance is a continuous journey.

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