If American science is to meet the needs of all of its citizens, its scientists must reflect the diversity of the country's population. -- Nature Medicine magazine.
Come again?? Like ... why??
The typical American lab is peopled almost entirely with white scientists. That's not reflective of society at large. A shake-up of the way minorities are recruited, trained and promoted could give minority representation in science the boost it so badly needs.
Now, is it me or do people want scientists to actually practice science, not worry about friggin' bean counting to satisfy some diversiphile's notion of "equity" or "correct proportions"? Once again we see the ugly notion of proportionate representation seeping into, this time now, the realm of science. This dictates that there "should be" proportionate numbers of races in virtually ANY field that reflect the numbers in the general population. Or, if you prefer, an "equal outcomes" approach that is, in essence, the very antithesis of "equal opportunity."
Again, why does science "badly need" a boost in minority representation? Do we not want the BEST scientists we possibly can get? And check this out:
In 2000, the US population was 75% white, 12% black and 12% Hispanic. But the proportion of minorities that completed biology PhDs between 1993 and 2002 did not match these numbers: only 2.6% of new PhDs were black and only 3.7% were Hispanic. The proportion of tenure-track biology faculty in 2002 was even more disparate: 89% white, 1% black and 2% Hispanic.
Notice anything? Where's the proportion of Asians?? You know, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans and Indians? Here's why they're omitted: I'd bet good money that the numbers of this group in the science field way outstrip their numbers in the general population. Notice the careful wording in the quote above -- selective use of only biology PhDs, and then tenure track biology faculty. Where's chemistry and physics, among many others?
This really shouldn't surprise anyone who regularly digests the miasma that is diversiphilia and multiculturalism. Asians aren't counted as "minorities" in academia, so why should they in the field of science? Simple: It's because their numbers grate against the dogma of proportionate representation; or, in other words, they "act too white." ("White" according to the multicultis.) They belie the "stigma" that the diversiphiles so readily attach to any field whose population "doesn't match up."
And good for them.
(h/t: Taranto.)
UPDATE: Soccer Dad informs me of another such diversity "concern."