[env-trinity] CBB: Study Finds Lack Of Diversity (Gender, Race) Among Fisheries Scientists, Field Overwhelmingly Dominated By White Men

[Sari Sommarstrom]

THE COLUMBIA BASIN BULLETIN: Weekly Fish and Wildlife News
www.cbbulletin.com

April 22, 2016     Issue No. 789

 

Study Finds Lack Of Diversity (Gender, Race) Among Fisheries Scientists,
Field Overwhelmingly Dominated By White Men

 

Researchers who study fish put a high value on biodiversity in the field,
yet a new study found a surprising lack of diversity among fisheries
scientists themselves.

 

According to the 2010 United States Census, 51 percent of the people in the
U.S. are women. That same year, a study of Ph.D. students in the biological
sciences documented that 52 percent of the students pursuing doctorates were
women - roughly the same percentage.

 

However, the new study by researchers at Oregon State University and the
U.S. Forest Service found that roughly even split soon disappears - in both
federal government positions and in academic institutions. The researchers
found that 74 percent of federal fisheries scientists or managers are men,
as were 73 percent of the university assistant professors, 71 percent of
associate professors and 85 percent of full professors.

 

The lack of diversity is even more pronounced when analyzed by race. In
2010, the U.S. population was 64 percent white, and participation in
biological sciences Ph.D. programs was 69 percent white. Yet only roughly 10
percent of all fisheries science, manager and faculty positions were
occupied by minorities.

 

Results of the study are being published this week in the journal Bioscience
https://www.aibs.org/bioscience/current_issue.html

 

"It is clear that the fisheries science culture is one dominated by white
men," said Ivan Arismendi, an Oregon State University research faculty
scientist and lead author on the study.  "There has been a lot of concern
expressed in recent years about diversity, but the numbers don't seem to
reflect that concern. It is important to begin turning the process today
because the hiring we're doing now will last a generation."

 

Brooke Penaluna, a research fish biologist with the U.S. Forest Service's
Pacific Northwest Research Station and co-author on the study, said the
reasons for the disparity are not completely clear.

 

"We are graduating women on a 50-50 basis in the biological sciences, but
the hiring rate is not keeping pace with the degree rate," Penaluna said.
"For some women, it may be the biological clock butting up against the
timetable of career advancement. That doesn't explain the disparity among
minorities.

 

"We need to look more closely at possible institutional biases. Women, for
example, have fewer professional publications and are not asked as often by
senior-level scientists to publish. And some federal positions may be in
geographic locations that are not attractive to all candidates. We need to
create environments that are welcoming so people want to stay - and those
conversations can be uncomfortable."

 

The authors suggest diversity training and a diverse composition of search
committees at both the federal and academic institution levels, as well as
increasing the pool of female and minority candidates, and programs to
insure their success and career advancement.

 

At Oregon State University, 28 percent of faculty members in fisheries
science are women and 16 percent are non-white.  In December of 2015, OSU
named Selina Heppell as head of the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife,
the first female to lead the unit in its 80-year history.

 

 

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