EDI Prize Lecture 2025: If Not Now, When? Building a Community to Empower Black Microbiologists

0:00 - Intro
09:09 - Prize Lecture

In 2020, the spotlight on social justice in the U.S. opened a door for the Black diaspora to discuss issues surrounding equity and inclusion in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). Globally, Black scientists voiced their exclusion from 1) access to communities of support; 2) having their work funded and cited; 3) being invited to join collaborations, or 4) promotion within their workplace. This highlighted similar disparities that exist throughout the world. For example, only 2% of the STEM workforce in the UK are Black. In the U.S., Black scientists represent 9% of the STEM workforce or less than 5% of PhDs in microbiology. In this project, we set out to increase the visibility of Black microbiologists and to increase their community with other Black scientists. We launched Black In Microbiology Week in September 2020, a celebration that has amplified the voices of 100+ Black speakers across 3 virtual conferences on a global stage. As a result, we engaged over 4000 participants from more than 80 countries in conversations on the future of STEM education, public issues in microbiology, and we showcased the research accomplishments of early career microbiologists. This presentation also shares our progress establishing Black Microbiologists Association (BMA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation that increased access to tools, resources, and community support needed to ensure career success. A broad coalition of talent is essential to address global challenges relevant to microbiology like climate change, pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and food security. We view our work as central to this larger goal and hope that other institutions, societies, and the broader scientific community will continue to support and join these efforts.

BMA founders:
Dr Chelsey C. Spriggs
Dr Nikea Pittman
Dr Ariangela J. Kozik
I’ah Donovan-Banfield

About us:
The Microbiology Society is a membership charity for scientists interested in microbes, their effects, and their practical uses. It is one of the largest microbiology societies in Europe with a worldwide membership based in universities, industry, hospitals, research institutes, and schools.

Our principal goal is to develop, expand and strengthen the networks available to our members so that they can generate new knowledge about microbes and ensure that it is shared with other communities. The impacts from this will drive us towards a world in which the science of microbiology provides maximum benefit to society. Visit our website to find out more: http://www.microbiologysociety.org