Hi everybody,

The AgBioData DEI Recruiting working group (WG) will feature a series of open meetings on subjects and resources related to disparity and inclusion in STEM science.

The first event of this series will be *next Monday (July 24) at 3 PM ET* with Dr. Rose Marks from Michigan State University. Rose will present her recent publication in PNAS https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2217564120 about inequalities in plant science literature. Below you can find more information about her talk and the Zoom link.

I hope you will join us!

Best,

Annarita

*Speaker: *Rose Marks, Ph.D., Michigan State University

*Global disparities in plant science: a legacy of colonialism, patriarchy, and exclusion*

The field of plant science has grown dramatically in the past two decades, but global disparities and systemic inequalities persist. We analyzed ~300,000 papers published over the past two decades to quantify global, gender, and taxonomic disparities in plant science. Our analyses reveal striking geographical biases that are correlated with national affluence. Gender imbalances were also evident, with far more papers led by authors with masculine names than those by authors with feminine names. Lastly, we identified substantial taxonomic sampling gaps. The vast majority of surveyed studies focused on major crop and model species, and the remaining biodiversity accounted for only a fraction of publications. Taken together, our analyses reveal a problematic system of publication, with persistent imbalances that poorly capture the global wealth of scientific knowledge and biological diversity. We conclude by highlighting disparities that can be addressed immediately and offer suggestions for long-term solutions to improve equity in the plant sciences.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89060768261?pwd=TC9EOWR3UVdQS3UxNGZWQTEvWDFaZz09 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89060768261?pwd=TC9EOWR3UVdQS3UxNGZWQTEvWDFaZz09