Department Seminar: Sarah McCullough

Title: Why Justice Belongs in Science

Abstract: Why do we need to do science with an orientation towards justice? Justice-based science leads to greater equity and produces more accurate and impactful research results. The roots of the university and foundations of science are intertwined with histories of white supremacy, colonialism, and patriarchy. This imbues fields of study with unintended and systemic bias that perpetuates systems of oppression and can isolate those historically excluded from academia, such as Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people, as well as women, nonbinary people, and those with disabilities. Researchers can change this by (1) learning about the way bias shaped their discipline, (2) exploring ways to counter these exclusionary practices, and (3) reshaping their research and discipline. Research justice requires that we ask different questions, collaborate in new ways, and talk about our work in an accessible manner. This talk will introduce researchers to intellectual tools that will enable them to address inequity in their field and produce better research.