Podcast Summary
Addressing bias on Wikipedia for underrepresented scientists: Wikipedia, a widely used educational resource, has a bias towards representation of women and people of color in science. Jess Wade's project to write Wikipedia entries for underrepresented scientists daily for three years aims to change that, encouraging future generations to pursue careers in science.
Wikipedia, which sees an average of 300 billion page views per day and is edited by millions of volunteers, has the power to influence the direction of scientific research. However, there's a significant bias on the site when it comes to representation of women and people of color in science. Jess Wade, an experimental physicist at Imperial College London, realized this and began writing Wikipedia entries about underrepresented scientists every day for three years. This project is important because Wikipedia is used extensively in classrooms and university lecture halls, and the lack of representation of diverse scientists can discourage future generations from pursuing careers in science. By populating Wikipedia with names and faces of underrepresented scientists, we can help ensure that everyone has a place in scientific history and inspire future researchers.
Addressing bias in Wikipedia through dedicated contributions: Wikipedia suffers from bias in authorship and content, particularly against women and people of color. Dedicated efforts to write entries for underrepresented individuals can help combat this issue and ensure a more inclusive and accurate representation.
Wikipedia, as a platform, suffers from a significant bias in authorship and content, particularly against women and people of color. This bias, which stems from the early dominance of a homogeneous group of contributors, results in an underrepresentation of diverse perspectives and individuals in the biographies and information available on the site. Jess Wade, an experimental physicist at Imperial College London, has dedicated the past three years to combating this issue by writing Wikipedia entries for women and POC scientists every night. This commitment highlights the importance of addressing this systematic bias to ensure a more inclusive and accurate representation of historical and scientific figures. Apple Card, a financial product from Apple, offers daily cash rewards as an incentive for purchases. Meanwhile, Integrative Therapeutics provides clinician-curated supplements now available on Amazon.
Celebrating the Impactful Scientists in a Quarantine Bubble: Two trailblazing scientists, Sarah Gilbert and Kizzmekia Corbett, could be invited to a quarantine bubble for their significant contributions to developing vaccines for COVID-19. Their inclusion highlights the importance of diversity and dedication in scientific research.
The individuals we celebrate in science and who are considered notable have a significant impact on the progress of scientific discoveries, particularly during a global crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. If I could build a quarantine bubble with some of the people I've written about, I would include Sarah Gilbert and Kizzmekia Corbett. Sarah Gilbert, a professor at the University of Oxford, has had a remarkable career trajectory in developing vaccines for various coronaviruses, including the one for COVID-19. Kizzmekia Corbett, a young African American woman at the National Institute of Health, has an impressive publication list and a passion for amplifying the voices of underrepresented scientists. Both have made significant strides in creating vaccines that could save the world. Their inclusion in a quarantine bubble would not only bring together individuals at different ends of their careers but also showcase the importance of diversity and dedication in scientific research.
The Significant Impact of Contributing to Knowledge on Wikipedia: Contributing to Wikipedia can lead to far-reaching impacts, as shown by the recognition and surge in traffic for mathematician Gladys West's page after its creation.
The impact of contributing to knowledge, especially through platforms like Wikipedia, can be significant and far-reaching. The story of mathematician Gladys West, who worked on the early calculations for GPS technology, illustrates this well. When I created her Wikipedia page in 2018, it was challenging to find information about her due to her work for the US government. However, a few months later, she was recognized by the BBC as one of the top 100 women in the world, leading to a surge in traffic to her Wikipedia page and more contributions from users. This not only expanded the reach of Gladys' story but also reinforced the importance of making information accessible to all. The experience made me reflect on the importance of my work and the potential impact it can have on others.
Uncovering historical information about underrepresented individuals feels like time travel: Researching underrepresented individuals' lives requires dedication and patience, but uncovers valuable historical context and perspectives
Delving into the past and uncovering historical information about underrepresented individuals, especially women, can feel like time travel. This process of discovery, made possible by modern resources like online libraries and archives, is incredibly rewarding and provides a unique perspective into people's lives. One of the challenges in this research is finding early information about individuals, especially when they have changed their names upon marriage. However, when a researcher manages to uncover that crucial piece of information, it opens up a wealth of knowledge and context. The ultimate goal is not just to create pages about these individuals but to ensure that they are as comprehensive and well-researched as comparable pages about white men. The passion and dedication of those involved in this work is evident, as they meticulously piece together the puzzle of people's lives, revealing their achievements and contributions to history.
Addressing practical and systemic issues for diversity in science: Provide support for individuals with caring responsibilities, critically examine why underrepresented groups leave, improve education systems, and create an inclusive environment to attract and retain diverse talent.
Increasing diversity in science requires addressing both the practical and systemic issues. Simple solutions include providing proper care and support for individuals with caring responsibilities, especially during the pandemic. However, it's crucial to critically examine why people from underrepresented groups leave scientific institutions and take concrete steps to address these issues. Additionally, improving education systems and supporting teachers financially and professionally can inspire the next generation to pursue careers in science and push for change. Overall, creating an inclusive and welcoming environment in scientific institutions is essential for attracting and retaining diverse talent.
NPR's Shortwave returns with weekly episodes and investment insights from The Bid: Listeners can enjoy new episodes of NPR's Shortwave every Wednesday and gain investment insights from The Bid's partnership with NPR
NPR's podcast, Shortwave, is coming back with regular weekly episodes every Wednesday. This means that listeners can look forward to new episodes every week, making their Wednesdays more interesting. The team behind Shortwave includes Thomas Lu as the producer, Viet Lai as the editor, and Ariel Isobede as the fact-checker. Additionally, NPR partners with BlackRock's podcast, The Bid, to bring listeners insights from BlackRock's thought leaders on various investment challenges. Larry Fink, BlackRock's Chairman and CEO, discusses retirement and other issues where global capital markets play a role in the latest episode of The Bid. So, Shortwave listeners can enjoy a weekly dose of insightful conversations on various topics, while also gaining valuable investment insights from The Bid.
