Importance of Inclusion in Science

Written by Ezra Wingard and Ashlan Cheever

Inclusion and belonging in social spaces are inherently important on an individual and population level. It is through the communities with which we are connected that determines the trajectory of our growth and evolution as people. Historically, the realm of science and the environments it resides in (workspaces, schools, research labs) have been inaccessible to the greater public. Now with the rapid expansion of internet connectivity, once separate and distant communities can now meet and collaborate.  
As the scientific community becomes more interconnected with larger and more diverse populations, leaps have been made in discovery and gaps have been identified, but not always addressed. The history of unethical and exclusionary practices have left many populations (women, minority ethnic groups, and gender diverse individuals) without a place for their stories to be scientifically heard. As scientists, our primary role is to further our understanding of the world through practical and reliable measures. Without the inclusion of all, the full story can never be told. 

The need for inclusion in science may not be as apparent to some as others, particularly if you yourself are not a part of a scientific community. However, I encourage you to consider how you yourself can be an important contributor to scientific study so as to see why the exclusion of others can be so deleterious. 

1. Do you have unique life experiences, dissimilar from any other person?
   
2. Do you hold distinct values and ideas as a result of your life’s journey? 
   
3. Are you a part of a community (geographical, gender, racial, ethnic, national) that carries with it ideas, experiences, and cultures that have shaped how you interact with the world? 
   

As we go through life, we each create a story, and we believe that no person’s story is more or less important than others. Including as many diverse chapters as possible is the closest we can get to understanding the full book that is the human story.  
By broadening our lab’s focus on inclusion, we are:  

1. Bringing in diverse perspectives that lead to innovation.  
   
2. Publishing representative data for generalizable results. 
   
3. Addressing existing disparities in marginalized communities. 
4. Enhancing the validity and ethical standards of research.
   
5. Founding personal connections to scientific advancements.  
   

While the efforts to provide equity and justice in research may be different depending on the subject of interest and lab standards, we believe that all can make impactful contributions. Some may be able to direct their biological and chemical research to aid drug development for those with rare genetic mutations, while another lab may use their psychological findings to inform policymakers and influence new laws.  
  With our lab’s focus on Neuroscience and Developmental research, we are in a prime field to be just writers of our many participants’ stories as they are being written. We aim to accomplish this by being stewards of lifelong learning and maintaining an open mind to the views, opinions, and possibilities we have yet to encounter. 

​We recognize that the systemic barriers that have historically excluded certain participants will not fall so easily, but with the intention of making “small ripples of justice” through our daily commitment to inclusion, we believe change is inevitable.