tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164804243040726299.post5649869318075200738..comments2024-03-19T06:40:22.220-04:00Comments on The EEB & Flow: A different kind of ecological diversity: on sticking out in academiaMarc Cadottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335319636148357534noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164804243040726299.post-32473047857463265712013-02-06T12:27:23.636-05:002013-02-06T12:27:23.636-05:00@Nabeel
Most ecologists tend not to have conversa...@Nabeel<br /><br />Most ecologists tend not to have conversations regarding Islam, religion or the Middle East. When the topic does come up (rarely), some people do expect me to provide an opinion. I agree with you that the main problem is when certain people assume that I must believe in certain notions as a consequence of my cultural background. <br /><br />@Anon 12:58 & 1:01<br />I agree that scientists do not exist in a vacumn and the questions we ask are probably influenced by our experiences, either as a majority or a minority. It's really strange that scientists belonging to minorities are asked about their backgrounds and the reasons why we pursue research, especially when everyone's background and reason for pursuing research is just as interesting. Sarah Hasnainhttp://www.kissmyroti.blogspot.ca/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164804243040726299.post-77935925374034670882013-02-05T16:01:44.807-05:002013-02-05T16:01:44.807-05:00I don't think my last paragraph makes grammati...I don't think my last paragraph makes grammatical sense- but hopefully the gist is clear -sorry! I meant, it can be very uncomfortable to be the one minority scientist expected to have all the answers. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164804243040726299.post-74610434328987828452013-02-05T15:58:29.708-05:002013-02-05T15:58:29.708-05:00I would argue it is a mistake to understand scienc...I would argue it is a mistake to understand science as comletely objective. While we wish, as scientists, to be logical and rational, the reality is that for all of us, our cultural background (in its widest sense) influences our questions, how we do our science, and how we explain our findings. Many mainstream scientists seem to forget this.<br /><br />Of course, that does not mean it can be very uncomfortable and tiring to be the one minority scientist in a room who is supposed to have all the answers about a particular issue.I don't think this is ok either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164804243040726299.post-11581346362333705452013-02-05T14:54:19.107-05:002013-02-05T14:54:19.107-05:00Being the only South Asian kid in a public adminis...Being the only South Asian kid in a public administration class. Sr. Kathy of the Tessellate Institute talks about being the only Muslim in the political science faculty. So whenever a discussion turns to religion, or Islam, or even just the Arab world, heads turn towards her, almost expectantly, as if she should provide an opinion or have expertise in the matter.<br />I don't think it's always discomfort with interest in background...it's when your background seems to define you, and people think you have preconceived notions about right or wrong based on THEIR preconceived notions of your background. That's when it gets uncomfortable. When you are seen to have a bias in issues that you are actually being very objective about.Nabeelhttp://twitter.com/ns_ahmednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3164804243040726299.post-9543930166678231722013-01-30T06:41:34.340-05:002013-01-30T06:41:34.340-05:00When it will become customary to have people "...When it will become customary to have people "like" you in academia (and in opther fields too) nobody will notice any more. Hans Castorphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05016989070891441042noreply@blogger.com