RCN: LEAPS: Leveraging, Enhancing and Developing Biology (LED-BIO) Scientific Societies Shedding Light on Persistent Cultural Challenges

在历史上，每个科学领域都由自己的科学协会代表，将个别研究人员聚集在一起，定期举行会议，他们可以在那里建立网络，分享发现，并进行合作。虽然多个不同的科学学会相互作用的情况很少见，但它们经常履行类似的职能，例如促进其成员的专业发展和促进各自领域的下一代研究人员的多样性。该项目将建立一个专家协作网络，以确定以证据为基础的包容战略，以实现以下目标：(1)收集社会成员的一致人口统计数据，(2)更好地将处于职业过渡阶段的科学家纳入科学社会活动，以及(3)使科学学会领导人队伍多样化。通过实现这些目标，该项目旨在克服经常破坏独立科学家社区内多样性努力的持续挑战，并为所有科学界的利益广泛分享这一信息。科学社会主要通过支持来自STEM历史上代表性不足的群体的个人成员的专业发展来处理多样性和包容性努力。不幸的是，缺乏数据来评估这些努力的有效性，可能需要更多的方法来解决造成STEM从业者人口结构扭曲的系统性不平等问题。幸运的是，发挥实践社区(COPS)功能的科学协会在领导文化变革和促进包容性环境以培养多样化的STEM劳动力方面具有独特的地位。这一研究协调网络(RCN)项目将使用虚拟市政厅和面对面的智囊团来扩大和加强警察的跨学科网络。该网络将合作确定以证据为基础的战略，以解决科学社会面临的三个长期挑战：(1)缺乏跟踪科学学会成员人口构成的数据，(2)缺乏将处于职业生涯过渡阶段的科学家纳入纪律警察队伍，(3)高度显眼的思想领袖，包括科学计划演讲者，缺乏多样性。这个RCN由ACCESS及其生命科学成员学会(美国生物化学和分子生物学学会、美国细胞生物学学会、美国药物和实验治疗学会、内分泌学会和生物物理学会)、少数族裔优质教育网络、伍兹霍尔海洋生物实验室和NSF包括Aspire联盟协调。由此产生的战略和标准将通过开放获取的培训材料和出版物进行报告和传播。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Each field in the sciences has historically been represented by its own scientific society, bringing together individual researchers for regular meetings where they can network, share discoveries, and collaborate. While it is rare for multiple distinct scientific societies to interact, they often perform similar functions, such as promoting the professional development of their members and promoting diversity among the next generation of researchers in their respective fields. This project will establish a collaborative network of experts to identify evidence-based inclusion strategies to accomplish the following: (1) collect consistent demographic data of society memberships, (2) better integrate scientists in transitional career stages into scientific society activities, and (3) diversify the ranks of scientific society leaders. By fulfilling these goals, this project aims to overcome persistent challenges that frequently undermine diversity efforts within independent communities of scientists and to broadly share this information for the benefit of all scientific communities.Scientific societies predominantly approach diversity and inclusion efforts by supporting the professional development of individual members who are from historically underrepresented groups in STEM. Unfortunately, data is lacking to evaluate the efficacy of these efforts, and additional approaches are likely to be required to address the systemic inequities underpinning skewed demographics among STEM practitioners. Fortunately, scientific societies that function as communities of practice (CoPs) are uniquely positioned to lead cultural change and promote inclusive environments to foster a diverse STEM workforce. This Research Coordination Network (RCN) project will use virtual town halls and in-person think tanks to expand and strengthen a cross-disciplinary network of CoPs. This network will collaborate to identify evidence-based strategies to address three persistent challenges that scientific societies face as identified by members of the Alliance to Catalyze Change for Equity in STEM Success (ACCESS): (1) lack of data to track scientific society membership demographic composition, (2) lack of integration of scientists in transitional stages of their careers into disciplinary CoPs, and (3) lack of diversity among highly visible thought leaders, including speakers in scientific programs. This RCN is coordinated by ACCESS and its member societies in the life sciences (the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Society for Cell Biology, the American Society for Pharmaceutical and Experimental Therapeutics, the Endocrine Society, and the Biophysical Society), the Quality Education for Minorities Network, the Marine Biological Laboratories at Woods Hole, and the NSF INCLUDES Aspire Alliance. The resulting strategies and standards will be reported and disseminated through open access training materials and publications.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.