Black Scientists Matter at Black In Neuro Week 2021

In an effort to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in science, Black neuroscientists and non-Black allies held the second annual Black in Neuro Week. From July 26-August 1, the free virtual conference celebrated the careers of Black neuroscientists and raised awareness of the issues they face in academia.

Black In Neuro was started by Angeline Dukes and her colleagues in 2020 in response to the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd.

Scheduled events included a research panel on African neuroscience, a discussion on gender and racial disparities in journal citations, and workshops on mentorship and career development. The final day focused on mental health and wellness, and included free dance and yoga classes.

The conference was kicked off on Monday by a Twitter campaign to promote visibility of Black neuroscientists. Researchers from all academic levels used the hashtag #BlackInNeuroRollCall to introduce themselves and their research topics.

Black students are consistently underrepresented in STEM. Over 13 percent of the U.S. population identifies as Black or African American, yet the Society for Neuroscience reports that only 4 percent of doctoral degrees in neuroscience are awarded to Black students, and only 1 percent of neuroscience faculty are Black. Black In Neuro Week intends to highlight the successes of these scientists and support their retention in the field.

One of the ways to achieve this is through community building. Attendees connected with each other over social media, in Zoom chat rooms, and during social workshops. Panelists consistently encouraged the audience to build personal and professional bonds during the conference and at their home institutions.

The theme of community was also extended to the importance of serving the Black community through science and medicine. Keynote speaker, Dr. Sossena Wood, emphasized that her research on sickle cell disease was motivated by the fact that it most commonly affects African Americans.

Wood says an important step to providing quality health care to the Black community is ensuring that they are included in medical research studies, both as scientists and research participants.

Multiple events addressed an existing barrier to this in electroencephalography (EEG) research. In this work, brain activity is recorded through scalp electrodes secured to the surface of the head. However, these electrodes have not been optimized to work on curly or textured hair, making it difficult to include many Black people in these studies.

Black In Neuro panelists highlighted their recent advancements in designing inclusive neurotechnologies that work with diverse hair types. Several research groups even collaborated with local hair stylists that specialize in curly hair during the design process. These partnerships helped optimize their EEG designs and promote cultural sensitivity when working with Black participants.

“You cannot underestimate the power of community, and involving that community in your research,” said Leitsel Richardson, Black In Neuro Secretary and panelist. Her message to attendees was clear: “Involve your community. Get out there; it’s possible.”