Imagining Otherwise for My Scientific Community
As a science communication researcher and community organizer, I’ve been concerned about the potential defunding of social justice efforts in science in 2025.
As a science communication researcher and community organizer, I’ve been concerned about the potential defunding of social justice efforts in science in 2025. I’m worried about the scientific community’s silence in the face of fascism. But I will always imagine otherwise for my community of scientists. It’s the sci-fi geek in me.
Full Transcript:
Hi, I’m Nic, and I use they/them pronouns. I’m joining you from East Lansing, Michigan–the Lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples. I am a white, nonbinary person with swoopy purply red hair in a mullet. I have blue eyes and I’m wearing clear plastic glasses. I’m wearing a super comfy green knit sweater and behind me is my blurred background.
I joined SURJ in 2020. I’m a National member. I’m here today because I needed to hop out of the ivory tower and into action, into the community. I joined my local chapter at the time–Undoing White Supremacy Austin– and got involved with their unlearning circles, base-building, and deep canvassing work. Currently, I am a coordinator with Turnout Tuesday, a facilitator with I’m in to Fight MAGA, a Gear Up circle coach, and a shared interest storytelling coach.
In my day job, I am a science communication researcher. I just finished my Ph.D. at The University of Texas at Austin last March. In September, I moved to East Lansing to start a postdoc at Michigan State University. I used to be a climate change biologist who studied butterflies. But my experiences there were painful–it’s a hostile place for an Autistic, queer, nonbinary person. And I’m white! But now, I’ve made it my life’s work to help science spaces transform into spaces of belonging.
Since the election, I have been journaling and working on my fear inventory. But recently, one item in particular has been hitting me. I research inclusion and equity in science, which is likely on the chopping block. Ted Cruz created a playbook in October to do just this. I know this isn’t an empty threat from him. I watched dozens of faculty associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Texas get fired this year, causing so much harm.
So this is scary for me, yes. What I have built my career doing may no longer exist. But what is really breaking my heart is that I’m afraid the scientific community isn’t going to be there for me. I’m afraid we will keep our heads down and not speak up as social justice efforts are dismantled and defunded. I’m afraid of our silence. I’m afraid we won’t learn our history lessons about what happens to scientists under fascism and what we are asked to do in the name of scientific racism. I visited the Holocaust museum a couple of summers ago and was gutted by a picture of Nazi scientists. They were in lab coats, holding clipboards and taking measurements. What chilled me is that I couldn’t tell the difference between them and the posture and gestures of a modern scientist, hiding behind our measurements, pretending to be objective. I’m afraid scientists won’t drop deep into our humanity and stand up for the world we all deeply love. I’m afraid we won’t link arms. I’m afraid we won’t fight.
I have poured so much into academia, trying to lovingly hold it to account. I just literally moved across the country for it. Rewriting papers about race so they can be heard by my white peers who aren't ready to hear it yet, keeping in the accountability with the love. Being told by leaders in my field that my research was opinion and not real research because it exposed some of the structural racism that we tolerate daily. Having our work with Black and brown scientists called racist–we were sued last because our fellowship is not open to white scientists. Being told that this isn't an activist space and that I need to be careful. These things I could handle. I knew what it would cost to remain in this space and be a troublemaker. But what is breaking my heart right now is watching my scientific community hold their heads down and pretend that science isn't political, to not fight because it doesn't affect us (YET).
But I’m talking with you tonight because I have also been a part of Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), a community that doesn’t let a single hand go. Working with Undoing White Supremacy in Austin, where I knew the community would actually miss me when I moved. Joining SURJ Lansing this year and feeling held and welcomed and valued. Working with SURJ National this year, struggling together to meet each other as we are and to all grow into responsibility together. Being in communities like this has helped me imagine what my community of scientists could be. I will always imagine otherwise for them, it’s the scifi geek in me.
This work is my practice in that solidarity. This work is my practice in not abandoning a single one of us. Not the ones that annoy the ever living hell out of me. Not the ones that don’t “get it” yet. Not the ones that I’ll never agree with, that I’ll never ever get along with. None of us gets left behind. We are all walking, arms linked together, against the tide of white supremacy and towards a liberatory future for all. Can you join us?