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06, 2021;19 (6): e3001282.

Promoting inclusive metrics of success and impact to dismantle a discriminatory reward system in science.

Sarah W Davies, Hollie M Putnam, Tracy Ainsworth, Julia K Baum, Colleen B Bove, Sarah C Crosby, Isabelle M Côté, Anne Duplouy, Robinson W Fulweiler, Alyssa J Griffin, Torrance C Hanley, Tessa Hill, Adriana Humanes, Sangeeta Mangubhai, Anna Metaxas, Laura M Parker, Hanny E Rivera, Nyssa J Silbiger, Nicola S Smith, Ana K Spalding, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Brooke L Weigel, Rachel M Wright, Amanda E Bates
Author Information
  1. Sarah W Davies: Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. ORCID
  2. Hollie M Putnam: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island, United States of America. ORCID
  3. Tracy Ainsworth: School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
  4. Julia K Baum: Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. ORCID
  5. Colleen B Bove: Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. ORCID
  6. Sarah C Crosby: Harbor Watch, Earthplace, Inc., Westport, Connecticut, United States of America. ORCID
  7. Isabelle M Côté: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. ORCID
  8. Anne Duplouy: The University of Helsinki, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program, Helsinki, Finland. ORCID
  9. Robinson W Fulweiler: Department of Earth and Environment & Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
  10. Alyssa J Griffin: Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences & Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America. ORCID
  11. Torrance C Hanley: Marine Science Center, Northeastern University, Nahant, Massachusetts, United States of America. ORCID
  12. Tessa Hill: Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences & Bodega Marine Laboratory, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America. ORCID
  13. Adriana Humanes: School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
  14. Sangeeta Mangubhai: Wildlife Conservation Society, Fiji Country Program, Suva, Fiji. ORCID
  15. Anna Metaxas: Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ORCID
  16. Laura M Parker: School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
  17. Hanny E Rivera: Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
  18. Nyssa J Silbiger: Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, California, United States of America. ORCID
  19. Nicola S Smith: Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. ORCID
  20. Ana K Spalding: School of Public Policy, College of Liberal Arts, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, United States of America.
  21. Nikki Traylor-Knowles: University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Miami, Florida, United States of America. ORCID
  22. Brooke L Weigel: Committee on Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America. ORCID
  23. Rachel M Wright: Department of Biological Sciences, Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States of America. ORCID
  24. Amanda E Bates: Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, New Foundland, Canada.
PMID: 34129646 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001282

Abstract

Success and impact metrics in science are based on a system that perpetuates sexist and racist "rewards" by prioritizing citations and impact factors. These metrics are flawed and biased against already marginalized groups and fail to accurately capture the breadth of individuals' meaningful scientific impacts. We advocate shifting this outdated value system to advance science through principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We outline pathways for a paradigm shift in scientific values based on multidimensional mentorship and promoting mentee well-being. These actions will require collective efforts supported by academic leaders and administrators to drive essential systemic change.

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MeSH Term

Bias
Cultural Diversity
Humans
Mentoring
Reward
Science
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 588

Word Cloud

Created with Highcharts 10.0.0impactmetricssciencesystembasedscientificSuccessperpetuatessexistracist"rewards"prioritizingcitationsfactorsflawedbiasedalreadymarginalizedgroupsfailaccuratelycapturebreadthindividuals'meaningfulimpactsadvocateshiftingoutdatedvalueadvanceprinciplesjusticeequitydiversityinclusionoutlinepathwaysparadigmshiftvaluesmultidimensionalmentorshippromotingmenteewell-beingactionswillrequirecollectiveeffortssupportedacademicleadersadministratorsdriveessentialsystemicchangePromotinginclusivesuccessdismantlediscriminatoryreward

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