In the UK, October marks Black History Month, an observance which has been celebrated annually since 1987. The aim of Black History Month is to commemorate the contributions of black people to British culture and society. Of course, there is no doubt that Black history should be integrated into the whole picture of British history, instead of being treated as a separate entity, however, we thought we would take this opportunity, as a science website, to celebrate some Black British scientists, as well as examine what needs to change in STEM to make the field more inclusive.
Is STEM in the UK inclusive enough?
Unfortunately, black people are still underrepresented in STEM in the UK. Only 6.2% of UK students studying STEM subjects at UK universities are black (4.8% Black African, 1.2% Black Caribbean, 0.2% Black Other). Black professors make up just 0.6% of UK professors, of which only 25 are female.
Diversity is more than just a buzzword, and the future of STEM (along with every other part of society), depends on becoming a more inclusive space. We are all responsible for continuously educating ourselves and tackling our own biases. All lives can’t matter until Black Lives Matter
Who are some additional Black scientists I should know about?
We’re glad you asked! There are so many amazing black individuals and organisations doing great work across several aspects of STEM and you can find some of them below:
Non-profit organisations helping to support underrepresented groups in STEM
Below are some organisations that do incredible work helping to promote diversity in science. If you are able to, please consider supporting these organisations with a donation.
