Diversity Matters

Diversity Matters is a group of passionate people at Canada’s Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre (GSC) who are committed to advancing equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research, at the GSC and beyond, through dialogue, vision and collaborative action!

We recognize that scientific research is subject to unconscious bias that results in the exclusion of underrepresented minorities and a lack of diversity. As researchers, we have an opportunity to challenge our biases and shape research to be more inclusive going forward. This isn't going to happen overnight, but we believe that the first step of addressing this problem is through raising awareness.

We're not experts in the field, but we're continuing to learn and unlearn. So if you have any feedback or concerns, or would like to learn more or provide your own perspectives, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at diversitymatters [at] bcgsc [dot] ca.

Scientist Spotlights

Dr. Mona Minkara

Dr. Mona Minkara is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University whose research centers on computational modeling of biological and chemical interactions. At seven-years-old, Minkara was diagnosed with macular degeneration with cone-rod dystrophy, a genetic disorder that resulted in her blindness during childhood. Following her diagnosis, education was a challenge for Minkara as she struggled for challenges and stimulation within Special Education classes. Minkara had to become her own advocate, deciding to pursue advanced biology classes in spite of unsupportive teachers. Her early success led to the pursuit of further advanced science classes and subsequent admission into Wellesley College where she achieved a BA in Chemistry, and obtained several research awards.

Since then Minkara has continued to pursue her passion for science and challenge people’s perceptions about the abilities of blind scientists. Following completion of her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Florida in 2015, Minkara pursued postdoctoral studies at the University of Minnesota prior to commencing her current post in 2019. In addition to her academic honors, Minkara’s goal is to pave the way for future blind scientists. She has her own website where you can read more about her story, research and the projects she is involved in to improve accessibility of STEM for visually impaired learners.

Dr. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin

Dr. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin was born in Cairo and raised in England and colonial North Africa. Her interest in crystal structure began when she was a child. As a gradutate of Oxford University she had difficulty finding work—despite her good grades—until Dr. J.D. Bernal of Cambridge University gave her the opportunity to earn her PhD in molecular biology. She returned to Oxford University in 1934 where she used X-ray diffraction images, extensive calculations, and astute analysis to determine the structure of penicillin (published in 1946) and the structure of vitamin B12 (published in 1956), in addition to making many other brilliant discoveries.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin "for her determinations by X-ray techniques of the structures of important biochemical substances" in 1964. She was the third woman awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, following in the footsteps of Marie Curie and Irène Joliot-Curie.

To find out more, watch this short biography from BBC Ideas, which includes video of her receiving the Nobel Prize in 1964, or visit the Nobel Prize website.

Dr. Tak Wah Mak

Dr. Tak Mak is the director of The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research and a senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. His work elucidating the structure of the T cell receptor for antigens made seminal contributions to the field of immunology. He was born in southern China and raised in Hong Kong. After Dr. Mak had received his PhD from the University of Alberta, Dr. Mak began his research at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto.

In an interview with the Canadian Immigrant magazine, Dr. Mak encourages other immigrant researchers to strive for success. “Our expertise and cultural backgrounds may differ greatly, but we are united by one common goal — to build better lives for our children and make positive contributions to Canada,” he says.

June Lindsey

June Lindsey, using the technique X-ray crystallography, worked out the physical structures of adenine and guanine for her PhD thesis. Her doctoral work described hydrogen bonding and in Watson Crick’s book The Double Helix, Watson describes how looking at her work led to his epiphany about the structure of DNA.

Lindsey also worked at Oxford University and the National Research Council in Ottawa, discovering the structures of vitamin B12, morphine and codeine. She died earlier this year at 99.

Read her obituary in the Ottawa Citizen.

Dr. Alan Turing

Alan Turing was a British mathematician who is now widely recognized as one of the most influential pioneers in computer science. His most notable contributions to science included developing the idea for the basis of the first computer in 1936, alongside work in the early fields of artificial intelligence and mathematical biology. Turing is probably most famous for his work in cryptoanalysis during World War II where he was a leader in a team of codebreakers tasked to decode encryption devices used by the German military.

Due to the Official Secrets Act most of Turing’s war time work was unknown and therefore largely unacknowledged publicly during his lifetime. Tragically, instead of being recognized as a war hero he was prosecuted for gross indecency in 1952 (a charge brought for engaging in sexual activity with another man). As part of his sentencing Turing was forced to undergo chemical castration, and 2 years later lost his life after consuming cyanide. The UK only began decriminalizing homosexuality in 1967, but many homophobic laws remained in place until 2013, the same year Turing received a posthumous pardon for his 1952 conviction. As part of a recent surge of national recognition the Bank of England released a new £50 on 23 June 2021.

Read more about Alan Turing in the New Scientist.

Dr. Wu Lien-Teh

Wu Lien-teh was a Malaysian-born doctor who invented a mask that effectively suppressed disease transmission. The Chinese government enlisted Wu to investigate the 1910-1911 pneumonic plague in Manchuria. After Wu established that the disease was spread by airborne droplets, he designed a mask with layers of gauze and cotton to filter the air. That mask is thought to have inspired the design of the current-day N95 mask. Wu took several other decisive actions that curbed the death rate and helped snuff out the Manchuria epidemic within seven months. He instructed that plague victims be hospitalised, their homes disinfected, and contact with others prohibited. He also called for cremating the bodies of those who succumbed to the disease.

Gérald Mesny, a prominent French doctor, who had come to replace Wu, referring to him as a Chinaman, refused to wear a mask subsequently dying days later of the plague. Over a century later, it’s clear that Wu’s approach to disease control set a valuable example for public health officials wrestling with threats including COVID-19.

Dr. César Milstein

Dr. Cesar Milstein was an Argentine biochemist in the field of antibody research. Dr. Milstein shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984 with Niels Kaj Jerne and Georges J. F. Köhler for developing the hybridoma technique for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Additional work demonstrated the importance of somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin V genes in antibody affinity maturation. Dr. Milstein acted as a guide and inspiration to many in the antibody field, as well as devoting himself to assisting science and scientists in less developed countries. Additionally, Dr. Milstein did not patent his discovery since he believed that it was mankind's intellectual property.

Learn more from What is Biotechnology?

Dr. Iam Cromwell

Dr. Ian Cromwell used to work in Cancer Control Research with the BC Cancer Research Institute and has moved onto the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Dr. Cromwell is a health economist who specializes in cost effectiveness in health care decision making. He is very efficient at relaying research in an understandable manner to colleagues from all fields. Dr. Cromwell is also a skilled musician who works hard to enrich the Vancouver music scene, and an advocate for people of colour who helps to educate others on BIPOC points-of-view and overall social justice issues through conversation and on social media.

Dr. Akiko Iwasaki

Dr. Akiko Iwasaki is the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz professor in the Department of Immunobiology and Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University. Dr. Iwasaki studies innate immunity and immune response to various viruses. She is a vocal advocate for women in science, calling attention to bias against women and people of colour, in particular raising awareness about the lack of affordable childcare that disproportionately affects women researchers and the gender inequity of Nobel laureates. Dr. Iwasaki amassed an online following during the pandemic for her tweets explaining Covid-19 research and for calling out sexism in science. Check out this 10-minute CNN podcast interview with her dicussing both the treatment of Covid-19 and helping women and minorities succeed during this pandemic.

Tusenko Okazaki

Genome scientists have likely heard of Okazaki fragments. In 1967, through grueling economic hardships, and at times funding experiments out of their own pockets, Tsuenko and Reiji Okazaki solved the mystery of how this lagging strand of DNA is copied during replication. Despite both of the Okazakis having obtained PhDs, Tsuenko was not treated with the same respect as her husband nor other male researchers of her time. After Reiji died of leukemia in 1975, Tsuenko was pressured to give up her research career and focus on raising their two children. Instead, she persevered and continued the research her and Reiji started together. She successfully defended challenges to the validity of their work, further clarifying the specifics of DNA replication (that we now understand today) by identifying the RNA primers that make lagging strand replication possible. Tsuenko’s courage to oppose the status quo has inspired future generations of women in science and, in 2000, earned her the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science, as well as numerous prestigious medals and honours in Japan. Tsuenko just celebrated her 88th birthday this summer.

If you are curious to hear more about Tsuenko’s life, and her perspectives on women in science, check out the transcript from this short 2017 interview.

Dr. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck

Dr. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck is a former Canadian senator from Saskatchewan. A member of the Cree George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, and a first generation Chinese Canadian. She is the first female First Nations senator and first Canadian-born senator of Chinese descent. Before being appointed to the Senate, she was a neuroscientist with the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining a Ph.D. in Biological Psychiatry in 1981. Senator Dyck has served as Deputy Chair and Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. Most of her senate work has been on the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls. She successfully advocated for changes to legislation that will require judges to consider stiffer penalties for violent crimes against Indigenous women. She also worked on Bill S-3, a bill to restore official Indian status for thousands of women who lost their status for marrying non-indigenous men.

Dr. Nadine Caron

As a surgeon, researcher and teacher of First Nations descent, Dr. Nadine Caron passionately advocates for Indigenous health. Last year, Dr. Caron became the inaugural First Nations Health Authority Chair in Cancer and Wellness at UBC—an opportunity she sees as an important step towards addressing the inequities in cancer care and research affecting Indigenous peoples.

“Cancer care is one of the areas where our health care system isn’t actually universal,” says Dr Caron.

Learn more about GSC Faculty member, Dr. Caron.

Dawn Pratt

In honour of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples this week, we are spotlighting Dawn Pratt.

Dawn Pratt is a member of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation in Saskatchewan, and is among the first Canadian Indigenous women to obtain a graduate degree in chemistry.She has gone on to found her own company called Askenootow STEM Enterprise Inc. Through her company she is dedicated to connecting the traditional Indigenous way of knowing the natural world with western science. Dawn is fostering a new generation of women and Indigenous people into careers in science while embracing their heritage.

Check out this short CTV news interview and her University of Saskatchewan alumni story.

Dr. Jocelyn Burnell

As a girl in the 1940s in Northern Ireland, Jocelyn Burnell'd enthusiasm for the sciences was met with hostility from teachers and male students. Undeterred, she went on to study radio astronomy at Glasgow University where she was the only woman in many of her classes. In 1967, as a PhD student at Cambridge University, Burnell made the discovery of pulsars that altered our perception of the universe. Her work led to Anthony Hewish being awarded the Nobel Prize.

You can listen to her story titled, “I Changed Astronomy Forever. He Won the Nobel Prize for It.”

Dorothy Vaughan

Dorothy Vaughan was an African-American mathematician and NASA’s first African-American manager. Jim Crow laws forced Vaughan to work in a segregated, all-Black group of female “computers” (programmers), the West Area Computing unit. Vaughan and her unit went on to distinguish themselves with major contributions to electronic computer programming and space feats. Vaughan advocated for the women in her unit, as well as for White computers from other units, on issues regarding pay and promotions.

After retirement, Vaughan commented on her experience working under segregation and gender limitations: "I changed what I could, and what I couldn't, I endured."

Dr. David Suzuki

Dr. David Suzuki was born right here in Vancouver and earned a PhD in Zoology before becoming the face of CBC's The Nature of Things series and appearing widely in broadcasting and television. He is an environmental activist and established the David Suzuki Foundation, which aims to protect the natural environment and build a sustainable Canada. Dr. Suzuki is a third-generation Japanese Canadian and he and his family suffered from internment during the Second World War.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: DR. Mona Minkara

ISSUE: JANUARY 20, 2022

Dr. Mona Minkara is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Northeastern University whose research centers on computational modeling of biological and chemical interactions. At seven-years-old, Minkara was diagnosed with macular degeneration with cone-rod dystrophy, a genetic disorder that resulted in her blindness during childhood. Following her diagnosis, education was a challenge for Minkara as she struggled for challenges and stimulation within Special Education classes. Minkara had to become her own advocate, deciding to pursue advanced biology classes in spite of unsupportive teachers. Her early success led to the pursuit of further advanced science classes and subsequent admission into Wellesley College where she achieved a BA in Chemistry, and obtained several research awards.

Since then Minkara has continued to pursue her passion for science and challenge people’s perceptions about the abilities of blind scientists. Following completion of her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Florida in 2015, Minkara pursued postdoctoral studies at the University of Minnesota prior to commencing her current post in 2019. In addition to her academic honors, Minkara’s goal is to pave the way for future blind scientists. She has her own website where you can read more about her story, research and the projects she is involved in to improve accessibility of STEM for visually impaired learners.

Blind Date in the Science Classroom

January 4th was World Braille Day! Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using 6 dots positioned within one cell that can be felt with one finger as it is passed over. First established in 2019, and celebrated on the birthday of inventor Louis Braille, World Braille Day reminds us of the importance of Braille as the main written form of information for blind and visually impaired people, which is essential for accessibility, education and allowing expression. There is also a variation of Braille specifically for math and science called the Nemeth Code named after inventor Dr. Abraham Nemeth who developed the variation as part of his doctorate in mathematics.

Accessibility of science to blind and visually impaired students can be challenging since many concepts and techniques currently rely on vision. However, Braille and it’s variations are just one example of how visual information can be adapted to a tactile or acoustic signal that can be interpreted by visually impaired people. Read this piece where Dr. Werner Liese discusses his work as a teacher/technical developer at the Carl-Strehl-Schule (a school for blind and visually impaired students in Germany). After joining the school, Werner’s goal was to develop tools for students that would allow them to complete experimental work in science classes. With the assistance of an electronics engineer, he has designed numerous instruments to adapt classical equipment to convert light or colours to sound or synthetic speech, several of which are available commercially.

SCientist spotlight: dr. dorothy crowfoot hodgkin

issue: january 13, 2022

Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin with models and crystallography images of the molecules she studied
Photo credit: Corbin O'Grady Studio/Science Source

Dr. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin was born in Cairo and raised in England and colonial North Africa. Her interest in crystal structure began when she was a child. As a gradutate of Oxford University she had difficulty finding work—despite her good grades—until Dr. J.D. Bernal of Cambridge University gave her the opportunity to earn her PhD in molecular biology. She returned to Oxford University in 1934 where she used X-ray diffraction images, extensive calculations, and astute analysis to determine the structure of penicillin (published in 1946) and the structure of vitamin B12 (published in 1956), in addition to making many other brilliant discoveries.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin "for her determinations by X-ray techniques of the structures of important biochemical substances" in 1964. She was the third woman awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, following in the footsteps of Marie Curie and Irène Joliot-Curie.

To find out more, watch this short biography from BBC Ideas, which includes video of her receiving the Nobel Prize in 1964, or visit the Nobel Prize website.

Towards a new biology nexus: race, society and story in the science of life

The next seminar in Microsoft's Race and Technology Series will be presented by Dr. C. Brandon Ogbunu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University, on January 26, 2022 | 10:00 AM–11:00 AM PT.

"Genetics and its many subfields have made strides in their attempt to define the flow of information that underlies how living things operate. This has created a landscape full of intrigue, complexity, and controversy, as we deal squarely with who we are as a species, and most importantly, what underlies the differences in phenotypes and fates. In this seminar, I introduce the idea of a “Biology nexus,” a new understanding of biology that can rigorously and responsibly incorporate multiple understandings about life—including the molecular, technological, social, and contextual—into a more complete picture of who we are and why we are different. In doing so, we create a more rigorous dogma that embodies, rather than regresses, the statistical noise and capriciousness that underlies modern genetics."

Register here.

Past seminars are also available for viewing here.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: DR. TAK WAH MAK

ISSUE: DECEMBER 16, 2021

*Image from* *Research at UHN's Gold Leaf Prize announcement*.

Dr. Tak Mak is the director of The Campbell Family Institute for Breast Cancer Research and a senior scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. His work elucidating the structure of the T cell receptor for antigens made seminal contributions to the field of immunology. He was born in southern China and raised in Hong Kong. After Dr. Mak had received his PhD from the University of Alberta, Dr. Mak began his research at the Ontario Cancer Institute in Toronto.

In an interview with the Canadian Immigrant magazine, Dr. Mak encourages other immigrant researchers to strive for success. “Our expertise and cultural backgrounds may differ greatly, but we are united by one common goal — to build better lives for our children and make positive contributions to Canada,” he says.

How science overlooks asian americans

Asian Americans (AA) are underrepresented in scientific studies where AAs represent about 7 percent of the US population, only 0.17 percent of the NIH’s research funding between 1992 and 2018 went to clinical studies that included a focus on AAs. Asian Americans have often been lumped together as a monolithic group, in turn hiding any subgroups. Asian American longitudinal surveys tracking neglect to include those who are less well off. Other inequalities persist as well. For instance, college-educated AA men born in the US were noted to earn 8 percent less than white men with the same level of education and college major. Asian American women were noted to have less likely to reach managerial positions than white women with the same qualifications.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: JUNE LINDSEY

ISSUE: DECEMBER 9, 2021

Obituary: 'Unsung hero' of science laid the groundwork for epic DNA discovery

June Lindsey, using the technique X-ray crystallography, worked out the physical structures of adenine and guanine for her PhD thesis. Her doctoral work described hydrogen bonding and in Watson Crick’s book The Double Helix, Watson describes how looking at her work led to his epiphany about the structure of DNA.

Lindsey also worked at Oxford University and the National Research Council in Ottawa, discovering the structures of vitamin B12, morphine and codeine. She died earlier this year at 99.

Read her obituary in the Ottawa Citizen.

Record number of first-time observers get Hubble telescope time

In 2018, NASA changed its review policy for requests for observation time by introducing a double-blind system where neither the applicant or review knows each other’s identities. With this change, 32 per cent of applicants hadn’t been awarded time before compared to under 15 per cent for the cycles preceding. An increase in the number of female researchers was also seen. NASA along with other astronomy organizations has rolled out double-blind review to their upcoming programmes and instruments.

Studies of double blind reviews have implicated various biases seen when the applicants are known.

Read all the results of the NASA study here.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: Dr. ALAN TURING

ISSUE: November 25, 2021

*Alan Turing Statue at Bletchley Park (Credit: Ian Petticrew via* *geograph.org.uk*)

Alan Turing was a British mathematician who is now widely recognized as one of the most influential pioneers in computer science. His most notable contributions to science included developing the idea for the basis of the first computer in 1936, alongside work in the early fields of artificial intelligence and mathematical biology. Turing is probably most famous for his work in cryptoanalysis during World War II where he was a leader in a team of codebreakers tasked to decode encryption devices used by the German military.

Due to the Official Secrets Act most of Turing’s war time work was unknown and therefore largely unacknowledged publicly during his lifetime. Tragically, instead of being recognized as a war hero he was prosecuted for gross indecency in 1952 (a charge brought for engaging in sexual activity with another man). As part of his sentencing Turing was forced to undergo chemical castration, and 2 years later lost his life after consuming cyanide. The UK only began decriminalizing homosexuality in 1967, but many homophobic laws remained in place until 2013, the same year Turing received a posthumous pardon for his 1952 conviction. As part of a recent surge of national recognition the Bank of England released a new £50 on 23 June 2021.

Read more about Alan Turing in the New Scientist.

Social inclusion of women by male colleagues in STEM fields can improve their workplace experience

In addition to organizations focusing on hiring more women or increasing the visibility of women's workplace achiements, this new research highlights the importance of fostering positive workplace social relationships. Specifically, facilitating male-female friendships might uniquely improve gender equity and inclusion in STEM fields.

Read more in this news release from UBC's Department of Psychology.

Addressing racism in medical research and publishing

The Hastings Center, in partnership with the Center for ELSI Resources & Analysis (CERA), will present an online discussion for journalists, “Addressing Racism in Medical Research and Publishing” on Tuesday, November 30, noon – 1:30 pm Eastern time. The panelists include Mildred Cho, Professor at Stanford University and Associate Director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics and Fernando De Maio, Director of Health Equity Research and Data Use in the Center for Health Equity at the American Medical Association and a professor of sociology at DePaul University.

Find out more and access previous discussions in the series here.

Register here.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Wu Lien-Teh

ISSUE: NOVEMBER 4, 2021

Dr Wu Lien-Teh working with a microscope in his first plague laboratory in Harbin, China, 1911.
Wu Lien-Teh Collection, PictureSG, National Library, Singapore.

Wu Lien-teh was a Malaysian-born doctor who invented a mask that effectively suppressed disease transmission. The Chinese government enlisted Wu to investigate the 1910-1911 pneumonic plague in Manchuria. After Wu established that the disease was spread by airborne droplets, he designed a mask with layers of gauze and cotton to filter the air. That mask is thought to have inspired the design of the current-day N95 mask. Wu took several other decisive actions that curbed the death rate and helped snuff out the Manchuria epidemic within seven months. He instructed that plague victims be hospitalised, their homes disinfected, and contact with others prohibited. He also called for cremating the bodies of those who succumbed to the disease.

Gérald Mesny, a prominent French doctor, who had come to replace Wu, referring to him as a Chinaman, refused to wear a mask subsequently dying days later of the plague. Over a century later, it’s clear that Wu’s approach to disease control set a valuable example for public health officials wrestling with threats including COVID-19.

What does it mean to include a land acknowledgement in my email signature?

They have become so commonplace that you'll hear land acknowledgments at the start of hockey games, during academic conferences and even written at the bottom of corporate email signatures. In an era of reconciliation, they're political statements meant to recognize First Nations, Inuit and Métis territory; however, many Indigenous people argue they've grown to become superficial, performative—and problematic. CBC Indigenous spoke with five First Nations people about the issues they see, what they expect when others make land acknowledgments and advice on how they can ring less hollow.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: Dr. César Milstein

ISSUE: OCTOBER 21, 2021

Dr. Cesar Milstein was an Argentine biochemist in the field of antibody research. Dr. Milstein shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984 with Niels Kaj Jerne and Georges J. F. Köhler for developing the hybridoma technique for the production of monoclonal antibodies. Additional work demonstrated the importance of somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin V genes in antibody affinity maturation. Dr. Milstein acted as a guide and inspiration to many in the antibody field, as well as devoting himself to assisting science and scientists in less developed countries. Additionally, Dr. Milstein did not patent his discovery since he believed that it was mankind's intellectual property.

Learn more from What is Biotechnology?

African researchers say they face bias in the world of science—here's one solution

Unconscious bias may interfere with the interpretation of research from some settings, particularly from lower-income countries. Read this article by NPR to learn how the journal Scientific African endeavors to support scientists in Africa as they face bias when trying to get published.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: DR. IAN CROMWELL

ISSUE: OCTOBER 14, 2021

Dr. Ian Cromwell used to work in Cancer Control Research with the BC Cancer Research Institute and has moved onto the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Dr. Cromwell is a health economist who specializes in cost effectiveness in health care decision making. He is very efficient at relaying research in an understandable manner to colleagues from all fields. Dr. Cromwell is also a skilled musician who works hard to enrich the Vancouver music scene, and an advocate for people of colour who helps to educate others on BIPOC points-of-view and overall social justice issues through conversation and on social media.

Colour me better: fixing figures for colour blindness

Red–green colour blindness is the most common form of colour vision deficiency; blue–yellow colour blindness is less common, and achromatopsia, the inability to see most colours, is rarer still. In northern Europe, 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have a colour vision deficiency — enough people that making your work accessible is simply the right thing to do, according to this article in Nature.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: Dr. Akiko Iwasaki

ISSUE: September 9, 2021

Dr. Akiko Iwasaki is the Waldemar Von Zedtwitz professor in the Department of Immunobiology and Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at Yale University. Dr. Iwasaki studies innate immunity and immune response to various viruses. She is a vocal advocate for women in science, calling attention to bias against women and people of colour, in particular raising awareness about the lack of affordable childcare that disproportionately affects women researchers and the gender inequity of Nobel laureates. Dr. Iwasaki amassed an online following during the pandemic for her tweets explaining Covid-19 research and for calling out sexism in science. Check out this 10-minute CNN podcast interview with her dicussing both the treatment of Covid-19 and helping women and minorities succeed during this pandemic.

They still live in the shadow of Theranos’s Elizabeth Holmes

In this New York Times article, Women entrepreneurs in the fields of life science, biotechnology and health care discuss their struggles to escape the shadow of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the blood testing company, Theranos. Holmes is now facing criminal charges for defrauding investors, doctors and patients. Women entrepreneurs who already struggle to establish their place in a male-dominated field of start-ups are now being demanded to defend their work and integrity. Many are asked to prove how they differ from Holmes, even though their start-up technology is completely different—all simply for also being women in a “hard-science space”. This bias can manifest as “preventative” questions that investors direct to women founders, which are “framed negatively and designed to prevent losses”, while male founders are asked “promotional” questions, allowing them to advertise their start-ups in a positive light.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: TSUENKO OKAZAKI

ISSUE: September 2, 2021

Genome scientists have likely heard of Okazaki fragments. In 1967, through grueling economic hardships, and at times funding experiments out of their own pockets, Tsuenko and Reiji Okazaki solved the mystery of how this lagging strand of DNA is copied during replication. Despite both of the Okazakis having obtained PhDs, Tsuenko was not treated with the same respect as her husband nor other male researchers of her time. After Reiji died of leukemia in 1975, Tsuenko was pressured to give up her research career and focus on raising their two children. Instead, she persevered and continued the research her and Reiji started together. She successfully defended challenges to the validity of their work, further clarifying the specifics of DNA replication (that we now understand today) by identifying the RNA primers that make lagging strand replication possible. Tsuenko’s courage to oppose the status quo has inspired future generations of women in science and, in 2000, earned her the L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science, as well as numerous prestigious medals and honours in Japan. Tsuenko just celebrated her 88th birthday this summer.

If you are curious to hear more about Tsuenko’s life, and her perspectives on women in science, check out the transcript from this short 2017 interview.

African languages to get more bespoke scientific terms

Have you or someone you know struggled to find a scientific term? This Nature article highlights the challenges faced by many Africans to learn science in their native language. As English is the primary language of formal education systems, new scientific jargon is not introduced widely to the 2,000 diverse languages spoken in Africa. Researchers are now trying to decolonize science and encourage growth in Africa’s many native languages.

Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck

ISSUE: August 26, 2021

Dr. Lillian Eva Quan Dyck is a former Canadian senator from Saskatchewan. A member of the Cree George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, and a first generation Chinese Canadian. She is the first female First Nations senator and first Canadian-born senator of Chinese descent. Before being appointed to the Senate, she was a neuroscientist with the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining a Ph.D. in Biological Psychiatry in 1981. Senator Dyck has served as Deputy Chair and Chair of the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples. Most of her senate work has been on the tragedy of Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls. She successfully advocated for changes to legislation that will require judges to consider stiffer penalties for violent crimes against Indigenous women. She also worked on Bi ll S-3, a bill to restore official Indian status for thousands of women who lost their status for marrying non-indigenous men.

Trends in gender pay gaps of scientists and engineers in academia and industry

This article in Nature provides insights into pay equity gaps by comparing compensation in academia and industry. The authors identify a 1.5x wider gender pay gap in academia than in industry due to a combination of factors.

Para judoka Priscilla Gagné named Canada's flag-bearer for Tokyo Paralympics

The Olympics are not over yet! Priscillia Gagné was recently named Canada’s flag-bearer for the Tokyo Paralympics, which began Tuesday, August 24 and will run until Sunday, September 5. Priscillia is a judo athlete ranking second in the sport in the world (52 kg category)! Whether you’re a judo fan or into archery, or more, there are plenty of world-class athletic performances ahead: be sure not to miss the 2021 Paralympics!

Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Nadine Caron

ISSUE: August 19, 2021

As a surgeon, researcher and teacher of First Nations descent, Dr. Nadine Caron passionately advocates for Indigenous health. Last year, Dr. Caron became the inaugural First Nations Health Authority Chair in Cancer and Wellness at UBC—an opportunity she sees as an important step towards addressing the inequities in cancer care and research affecting Indigenous peoples.

“Cancer care is one of the areas where our health care system isn’t actually universal,” says Dr Caron.

Learn more about GSC Faculty member, Dr. Caron.

Study shows Canada needs to prioritize creating a more inclusive science and technology workforce

New research from the annual 3M State of Science Index reveals that 93 per cent of Canadians recognize scientists as being critical to our future well-being in light of the pandemic. At the same time, 68 per cent of Canadians acknowledge underrepresented minority groups often don't receive access to STEM education, which is critical not only because a more diverse STEM workforce will result in more innovative ideas, but also to enable Canada to increase its global collaboration to help solve some of our biggest problems. Learn more from the 3M press release.

Scientist spotlight: dawn pratt

ISSUE: August 12, 2021

In honour of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples this week, we are spotlighting Dawn Pratt.

Dawn Pratt is a member of the Muscowpetung Saulteaux Nation in Saskatchewan, and is among the first Canadian Indigenous women to obtain a graduate degree in chemistry.She has gone on to found her own company called Askenootow STEM Enterprise Inc. Through her company she is dedicated to connecting the traditional Indigenous way of knowing the natural world with western science. Dawn is fostering a new generation of women and Indigenous people into careers in science while embracing their heritage.

Check out this short CTV news interview and her University of Saskatchewan alumni story.

Embrace and celebrate diverse names in science

In this Nature article, Ilinca [ee-lean-ka] Ioana Ciubotariu makes her case for holding others to the standard of pronouncing correctly. To highlight her suggestions for learning how to pronounce a name:

Simply asking is best practice
Take appropriate action if you mispronounce someone’s name
Be a model and active bystander
Pave the way: pronounce the name in front of others

How many people do you know that go by a name different from their given name?

How deaf researchers are reinventing science communication

Last week we shared an article covering the difficulties deaf students face in communicating in science, and highlighted some creative signs created by students and teachers. This week see how these efforts are deployed in the lab to allow deaf researchers to communicate clearly and quickly.

Scientist Spotlight: Dr. Jocelyn Burnell

ISSUE: August 5, 2021

As a girl in the 1940s in Northern Ireland, Jocelyn Burnell'd enthusiasm for the sciences was met with hostility from teachers and male students. Undeterred, she went on to study radio astronomy at Glasgow University where she was the only woman in many of her classes. In 1967, as a PhD student at Cambridge University, Burnell made the discovery of pulsars that altered our perception of the universe. Her work led to Anthony Hewish being awarded the Nobel Prize.

You can listen to her story titled, “I Changed Astronomy Forever. He Won the Nobel Prize for It.”

Guidelines for writing about culture, ethnicity and race

Ever struggle with how to write sensitively about culture, ethnicity or race? Please see this writing style guide to aid in understanding terms and their nuance. This resource is a means to illuminate, to stimulate and to challenge but not to judge. Please note, this site was generated by a US-based group and is based on opinion.

Expanding American Sign Language’s scientific vocabulary

One of the fundamental issues facing deaf people in science is that it’s hard to talk about science itself because signed terminology is limited. In thisChemistry and Engineering News article, read about the struggles deaf scientists and students have and how various groups and universities are trying to change that. Also, check out the signs for DNA and RNA, and note the difference. More signs can be found from The ASLCORE Project.

SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHT: Dorothy Vaughan

ISSUE: July 29, 2021

Dorothy Vaughan was an African-American mathematician and NASA’s first African-American manager. Jim Crow laws forced Vaughan to work in a segregated, all-Black group of female “computers” (programmers), the West Area Computing unit. Vaughan and her unit went on to distinguish themselves with major contributions to electronic computer programming and space feats. Vaughan advocated for the women in her unit, as well as for White computers from other units, on issues regarding pay and promotions.

After retirement, Vaughan commented on her experience working under segregation and gender limitations: "I changed what I could, and what I couldn't, I endured."

The importance of mentoring to increase diversity in STEM

In this Inside Higher Ed article, Dr. Lesley McCollum reflects on the positive impact having relatable mentors and leadership had on her academic experience. She discusses the importance of having representative mentors to act as role models for minority students in STEM, and makes recommendations for how academics from traditionally underrepresented groups can use their positions to increase diversity in STEM subjects by creating a welcoming environment.

Inclusivity for all: How to make your research group accessible

In this Science article, researchers discuss how to create an inclusive/accessible environment in your research group for people with disabilities. The article acknowledges that individuals with disabilities have needs that cannot always be predicted, but that achievable goals can be to remove as many barriers as possible, be flexible in the accommodations needed by individuals and by creating a culture of respect and empowerment.

Fourteen recommendations to create a more inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals in academic biology

LGBTQ+ individuals are under-represented in STEM, owing in part to discrimination and uninviting academic/work environments. This Life Science Education article presents a list of 14 actionable recommendations to create a more inclusive climate for LGBTQ+ individuals in biology.

Scientist Spotlight: Dr. David Suzuki

ISSUE: July 22, 2021

Dr. David Suzuki was born right here in Vancouver and earned a PhD in Zoology before becoming the face of CBC's The Nature of Things series and appearing widely in broadcasting and television. He is an environmental activist and established the David Suzuki Foundation, which aims to protect the natural environment and build a sustainable Canada. Dr. Suzuki is a third-generation Japanese Canadian and he and his family suffered from internment during the Second World War.

Canadian business landscape shows "remarkable progress" in workplace equity issues in 2020, report finds

According to the new report from a UK-based Source Global Research, as reported in the Toronto Star, leaders of various Canadian consulting firms acted upon the feedback they received from the businesses they work with. Many Canadian companies made significant progress with implementing diversity and inclusion policies in 2020.

These are Mediacorp Canada’s top diversity employers in 2021

"Diversity takes more than making everyone welcome in the workplace. It’s also about a seat at the table,” reports The Globe and Mail. Canada's best diversity employers—who were selected by Mediacorp Canada Inc. in 2021—have realized that real change requires real action. This article provides the name of, and reason for why, these companies made their way to the top of the list.

Inequity is a public health crisis: new article finds Canadian medical leadership lacking in diversity

“Despite equal numbers of men and women in medical school, women are still underrepresented in leadership and decision-making positions—and harassment continues to be more common among minority and female physicians, while female physicians are paid less than male colleagues for the same work. This gap is expected to be even larger for women of colour.” This according to a new article in the British Medical Journal, and reported by the University of Calgary.

Practical Guidance for Embodying Equity in Implementation

In this free virtual workshop, The Centrer for Implementation takes participants on three journeys to show them how they can approach equity in implementation and get closer to embodying these essential principles for real-life impact. It will explore:

How to explore your mental models
What being inclusive really means
What questions are effective for guiding you in your equity work
How to have courage and embrace vulnerability in order to admit when you might not have the right answers

Not available to attend live? Register and you will receive access to the recording.