How can we support the next generation coming into this field?
Ask a Biologist Monday 2/26/24
Answers from Biologists:
Be the one to fix all the things you hate about your organization/agency.
Don’t “donate” your time instead of claiming your overtime if it’s being paid out.
Creating supportive spaces and resources for URM scientists.
Make space for diversity, discussion, and inclusion. Never assumer you know all.
Normalize picking jobs based on work/life balance and saying no to things that don’t fit.
Work to create more full time, year round positions. Accepting seasonal work isn’t possible for many.
Improve leadership and communication skills in the workplace.
Be supportive of one another’s goals and aspirations. Don’t see others as competitors.
End the “I suffered so you can suffer too” attitude. If you can make it easier, do it.
If you’re a supervisor, help techs set boundaries that they may be too scared to set for themselves.
Vote for science-accepting politicians.
Model a good work/life balance.
Make sure when you have a project, you make time to teach those under you.
Queer representation. Make employers aware of queer specific field safety.
Once you get to an established position-look out for techs, interns, junior bios.
Call out problematic behavior when you see it.
Let them know there is no one path to getting into the field.
Pass on relevant job announcements to current and past techs.
Be honest about your personal experience and struggles.
Unionize.
Give them space to learn on the job instead of requiring 5 years of school/experience for an entry level job.
Stop advertising unpaid work as a job opportunity.
Fix toxic work places so those we are telling to do STEM jobs have a safe place to work.
Advocate for work-life balance. Work shouldn’t be your whole life, no matter the field.
Ditch the mentality of “it was hard for me starting out so it should be hard for you”.
Provide your seasonals with as many trainings as you can.
More career development opportunities at seasonal jobs.
Have a concrete plan of action in place to combat harassment.
Mentorship-help the next generation not to make the mistakes we did.
Women, speak up now so the women behind us can just finally speak.
