The Chronicle of Philanthropy published an opinion piece by Sam Gill, president and CEO of the Doris Duke Foundation, and Elizabeth Christopherson, President and CEO of the Rita Allen Foundation, in which they examine how philanthropy can help restore public trust in science. Gill and Christopherson argue that, in order to create long-lasting confidence in science, grantmaking institutions should address the lack of diverse perspectives and connection to the communities science seeks to help.
Speaking about the lack of diversity in science, Gill and Christopherson highlight the STEMM Opportunity Alliance—a new landmark cross-sector organization that aims to achieve equity in the science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) fields by 2050—as an example of diversity efforts that are gaining momentum. The STEMM Opportunity Alliance is led by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and was launched in Dec. 2022 at the White House through a founding partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation.
Gill and Christopherson write: “The power of science rests in its ability to tell us something verifiable about our universe, our world, and ourselves that is independent of how we think and feel. The problem with this view is that no human institution, including science, is infallible.”
Read their insights and recommendations in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.