National Science Board Discusses Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity

The National Science Board (NSB), the governing body of the National Science Foundation (NSF), met last week to discuss a series of topics related to equity, inclusion, and diversity in science and engineering. During the meeting, NSF showcased its newly released, congressionally mandated Women, Minorities, and People with Disabilities in Science and Engineering report, which “provides data essential to recognizing and enhancing the participation of millions of individuals who remain underrepresented in STEM education pathways and in the science and engineering workforce.”
 
Over a couple of days, the NSB held several plenary discussions followed by a closed session to discuss NSF’s FY22 Budget Request, along with the agency’s draft Strategic Plan. NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan delivered opening remarks, commenting on how NSF is working to accomplish NSB’s Vision 2030, which includes growing STEM talent and creating a more global S&E community.
 
On Wednesday, NSB Vice Chair Victor McCrary hosted a panel discussion titled, “Lessons from Minority Serving Institutions.” Panelists included individuals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Dr. McCrary opened the discussion stating that the 21st century workforce requires an “inclusive STEM ecosystem to attract and retain STEM talent and equitable policies and procedures to create innovate and sustainable systemic change so that the S&E enterprise is more reflective of the communities S&E regularly impacts. As it stands now, millions are missing from the S&E enterprise. To recruit and reclaim those missing names we must look to those who do it best, and those are our country’s minority serving institutions.”
 
Click here for the meeting agenda and full video recordings of the meeting.