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On October 19th, UCL Earth Sciences PhD student Cassius Morrison hosted a discussion for Black History Month.
We were fortunate to be joined by five Earth Scientists who shared their insights and experiences with us. Some recurring themes developed during the event, highlighting some common experiences:
- I am expected to ‘represent’ black people
- I have had limited role models
- I am asked to solve the racial diversity problem
Black Scientists have diverse backgrounds, research interests, skills and heritage and to expect one of them to represent the ‘group’ does not make sense. Many of them have progressed through their careers with limited role models, overcoming obstacles from overt racism to well-meaning but unhelpful comments and initiatives. And yet, many white colleagues still look to them to solve the diversity problem – one which they did not create and which has often disadvantaged them. This requires additional resource from them and is not an issue that one individual can solve. The effect is to put additional expectations and pressure upon the people disadvantaged by the situation, and trying to find a solution using an inadequate methodology.
View the recording to find out more about the experiences of our speakers and to hear how they have overcome barriers to get to where they are today.