Implicit biases and associations impact how we perceive people, including their professional capabilities, which in turn impacts our decision-making processes. This is especially relevant to marginalized groups, who are often underrepresented in various fields, especially in STEM fields. Underrepresented groups (women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled individuals) face greater biases, and typically leave STEM fields at higher rates than majority groups.

In light of recent events and the current moment of racial reckoning in society, this session will also examine the topic of systemic racism, which exists within the larger system of implicit biases and stereotypes prevalent in our society and in academia. This session will provide a deeper understanding of how systemic bias works, especially in the context of power and privilege, and what we can do to promote a more inclusive and equitable culture and environment. 

About the presenter: 

Dr. Kuheli Dutt is the Assistant Director for Academic Affairs and Diversity at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), Columbia University, and serves as Lamont’s Diversity Officer. She has a PhD in public policy, and leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts at Lamont. As a scholar-practitioner, her interests lie in implicit bias, gender, race, and STEM diversity. Dr. Dutt has published in venues such as Nature Geoscience, Scientific American, The Lancet, and Eos, and she has presented to national and international audiences on the topics of anti-racism, STEM diversity, implicit bias and other topics. Her work has received wide media coverage, including venues such as the New York Times; NPR Science Friday; Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda; Scientific American; Nature; Science; Huffington Post; Inside Higher Ed; Physics World; Ars Technica; El Español; and others.