Today is #ShutDownSTEM / #Strike4BlackLives day, so let’s talk about what’s going so wrong in UK physics. Of *all* the physics academics in the UK, 𝟬.𝟭% are Black. (IOP, 2012) iop.org/publications/i…
I'd argue that the anti-Black bias in UK physics starts long before people reach the ivory tower. Bear with me, the data are (a) depressing (b) difficult to come by — in the UK don’t collect/report ethnicity disaggregated data very often.
The IOP (@PhysicsNews) have collected data on the participation of Black students from GCSE to PhD, and compared representation to white students. There's *considerable* evidence that from the age of 15, the UK education system fails Black students. iop.org/publications/i… 
Black students are considerably less likely than white students to study physics A-Level. “Of the population of white students achieving 5+ A*–C GCSEs, ≈ 10% do an A-level physics or chemistry. These figures compare w/ 𝟯% for Black Caribbean population.” iop.org/publications/i…
To be clear; this isn't about interest or ability. When the IOP investigated in 2008, they found that Black students had been told that they would have “to work twice as hard as other groups to overcome disadvantage,” iop.org/publications/i…
Last year, the @BBC + @PhysicsNews reported that there were 𝟴𝟱 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 in the whole of the UK.
You're probably in WhatsApp groups that are bigger than that. bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
You're probably in WhatsApp groups that are bigger than that. bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
For every 10,000 undergraduate students from Black Caribbean backgrounds, 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗲 will undertake a doctorate in physics. iop.org/publications/i…
Last year, @LeadingRoutes found that of 𝟭𝟵,𝟴𝟲𝟴 @UKRI_News 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 went to students from Black Caribbean backgrounds.
3-0
leadingroutes.org/launch-the-bro…
3-0
leadingroutes.org/launch-the-bro…
@EPSRC are a major funder of physics research. In 2011 the success rate of ‘Asian/Black/Chinese/Mixed/Other’ EPSRC fellowship applicants was 34.3%.
𝗜𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟳 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝟭𝟮.𝟱%.
ukri.org/files/rcuk-div…
Good thread from @tanvir_h:
𝗜𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟳 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝟭𝟮.𝟱%.
ukri.org/files/rcuk-div…
Good thread from @tanvir_h:
Alongside anti-Black bias in funding applications, there's well documented bias in peer-review, which particularly impacts women and those with non-Western names/ institutions. nature.com/articles/d4158…
𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙬 UK scientific medals and prizes go to Black academics; and for physics it’s a handful. I know because I search the websites of professional bodies to look for people who should be on @Wikipedia. Don’t believe me? Look for yourself: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute…
And how does UK academia celebrate the Black academics who make it through this racist obstacle course? They pay them less. Last year, @ucu found that “Black academic staff are paid 𝟭𝟰% 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 than white academic staff”. ucu.org.uk/article/10360/…
It’s hardly surprising that Black researchers leave UK academia – and particularly leave physics – to be better treated elsewhere. @AdvanceHE reported that whilst there are 17,130 white professors in the UK; there are only 120 Black professors. advance-he.ac.uk/sites/default/…
UK education and academia are systematically, overtly + covertly racist. Physics is one of the least inclusive disciplines. Spend today reading, listening, learning – and planning. Check out the comments on #Strike4BlackLives, read the resources at particlesforjustice.org/strike-details.
Tomorrow, nominate a Black colleague for a prize. Write a fantastic letter of support for a Black student or ECR. Support Black faculty through the tenure track. Work w/ teachers + parents to make physics relevant and welcoming to Black school students. Actively challenge racism.
And, because she is a legend, Prof Dame Jocelyn Bell-Burnell is already on it. bbc.co.uk/news/science-e…
