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NASA, NIH diversity requirements ‘undermine the academic freedom of researchers’

The federal government is “politicizing science funding” which “undermines public trust,” according to a group of STEM scholars.

Taxpayer-funded research grants are “increasingly” mandating that scientists explain how their studies will advance “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” the Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analysis paper explains.

Most of the authors are STEM professors, although philosopher and political scientist Robert George, a Princeton University professor, also co-wrote the paper. The lead author is Northwestern University engineering Professor Igor Efimov.

“These mandates undermine the academic freedom of researchers and the unbiased generation of knowledge needed for a well-functioning democracy,” the authors wrote.

“Maintaining excellence in science is fundamental to the continuation of the U.S. as a global economic leader,” the professors wrote. “Science provides a basis for solving important global challenges such as security, energy, climate, and health.”

University of Southern California chemist Anna Krylov provided further insights to The College Fix via email.

The paper’s co-author said it is “entirely inappropriate” to require diversity statements, even if institutions rated comments in support of equality the same as those backing equity.

The statements “have no place in the process of evaluating scientific merit of the proposed research.” The chemistry professor compared it to funding agencies asking “applicants to write about their religious beliefs… their political views… or what sort of food they cook for dinner.”

Even NASA is studying “inclusion goals,” according to the paper, citing a 2023 presentation by the agency.

The agency suggests researchers hire diversity “consultants” and “paying them well, too!” according to the presentation.

The presentation also says the inclusion plans “will not inform the selection of proposals” but also says “some programs may require an acceptable plan for the selected proposal(s) before funding may be released.”

The aerospace agency provided minimal comments when asked for proof that diverse teams improve performance, why DEI matters to studies, and if it believes mandated statements could be compelled speech.

Spokesperson Gerelle Dodson sent The Fix a “Mission Equity” page with a link to its “equity action plan” and stories about diversity.

The Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, and public universities also have diversity mandates, according to the paper.

MORE: MIT bans mandatory DEI statements in hiring

The NIH requires applicants “to describe how their strategies for recruiting students and postdocs…will increase the participation of underrepresented groups,” the Frontiers paper states.

“This requirement implicitly makes talent, skills, motivation, ability to carry out research, and scientific potential of the future trainees secondary to the goal of increasing diversity,” the authors wrote.

The Dept. of Energy and NIH both did not respond to two emailed requests for comment in the past month for comment on their policies.

Although this paper only covers practices within public agencies and universities, Professor Krylov told The Fix “[private] foundations now place advancing DEI above their original missions” and that “this is a betrayal of the will of their founders and donors who gave money for specific scientific causes and not to advance DEI.”

Krylov, the USC chemist, told The Fix that she “know[s] for sure that many — if not the most — STEM professors abhor these requirements, but are terrified to speak up because of fear of losing their funding.”

“Research funding is a lifeline for scientists — without funding you cannot carry out your work — so losing funding is the end of your scientific career,” she said.

“That is why funding agencies wield enormous power over researchers — and why most scientists prefer to keep their heads low and comply with whatever funding agencies are telling them to do.”

MORE: Stanford tech marketing course requires DEI statement to enroll

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