Interrogating the Intersections of RACE, POWER, & KNOWLEDGE.

Democratizing Scientific Research  

♦ Interrogate the intersections of race, power, and knowledge production in scientific institutions and curricula.

♦ Explore how Black epistemologies and worldviews offer alternative frameworks for  scientific inquiry, ethics, and pedagogy. 

♦ Interrogate the “objectivity” of science by applying critical race theory and Black  feminist thought. 

Race, power, and knowledge production in scientific institutions and curricula are intertwined in ways that have historically justified oppression and continue to shape inequalities today. The field of Science and Technology Studies and Critical Race Theory are frameworks that analyze how race and power influence what counts as legitimate knowledge, who is recognized as a legitimate "knower," and whose experiences are marginalized or erased.

Addressing the intersections of race, power, and knowledge

Efforts to reform scientific institutions and curricula focus on creating a more equitable and just system. Key strategies include:

Recognizing knowledge gaps: Institutions must acknowledge that the segregation of authors by race and gender has created knowledge gaps, and should promote and fund historically underrepresented topics.

Diversifying participation: Initiatives should be created to promote diverse participation in high-impact research areas, ensuring marginalized populations have access to high-prestige networks and resources.

Teacher training: Science teacher education programs can include CRT and race topics in their curriculum to help educators develop mindsets that critically examine the role of race and racism in student learning.

Engaging students and communities: Educators can leverage student identity and critically discuss race in science to create a more expansive and representative learning space. Scientific institutions also need to build trust with communities of color by making science more accessible and relevant to their lives.

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