Science is a place of bright minds. What counts is qualification, performance, and the best argument. Of course, these aspects should be considered regardless of gender, origin, or appearance. But is that even possible?
Often we are not aware of how strongly our perception is shaped by stereotypes and unconscious biases. The term unconscious bias describes the distortion effects of our perception which we are not aware of. These distortions arise in connection with stereotypes and are directly related to social discrimination processes. They affect our judgments, our decision-making, and eventually our actions. They can influence personnel selection decisions, performance appraisals and can cause biased judgments, even if we think we are acting fairly.
The event “Unconscious Bias in Science” serves as an introduction to the topic of exclusion mechanisms in science towards women and minorities. We will discuss to which extent such mechanisms are particularly strong in the academic sector and which approaches of intervention are appropriate from the organization’s point of view.
The event will be held via ZOOM on 18th October 2021. To register for the workshop, send an email to crc228-genderboard@uni-koeln.de
Dr. Lina Vollmer is a freelance trainer in the field of diversity and anti-discrimination and a consultant in the Department of Gender & Diversity Management at the University of Cologne.
