The National Science
Foundation’s Directorate for Biological Sciences recently awarded $2.14
million to the American Society of Plant Biologists to be used towards the
development of a multi-organization research coordination network called ROOT
and SHOOT. Seriously. ROOT stands for—you guessed it--Rooting Out Oppression Together, while SHOOT represents SHaring Our Outcomes
Transparently. Because the most important thing about outcomes, other than that
they promote diversity, is that they are shared transparently.
The award’s abstract
states: “The demographic distribution of scientists, especially those in
positions of authority, does not reflect that of the US population.” And it is
vitally important that the ranks of plant biologists reflect the exact
demographic breakdown of American society at large. There must be the same
percentage of Blacks, gays, Latinos, lesbians, transgenders, Hindus, and Green
Bay Packer fans in the American Society of Plant Biologists as in America as a
whole. It is written.
The NSF also stated that it “recognizes culture change in the
biological sciences as an urgent priority and is committed to supporting
efforts that use evidence-based practices to remove barriers for individuals
historically excluded from science.” Yes, we urgently need, say, rap music and
drag queens to permeate plant biologists’ laboratories if we have any hope of
advancing mankind’s knowledge of—and relation to—our fabulous flora.
Mary Williams, the
principal investigator for the ROOT program, recently announced the approval of
the grant in a blog post in which she characterized the program as “bold,”
“radical,” and “innovative.” She added, “together we will get to the root of
the systematic oppressions that lie within our organizations, so that they can
regrow as truly inclusive spaces.”
This kind of word
salad stems from the basest virtue signaling impulses of blooming idiots
smoking weed-- and drives me up a tree. This supposed desire to branch out will
produce no tangible benefits to science or anyone else. The NSF is utterly
incapable of producing evidence of oppression or barriers to inclusion. Or of
how forced diversity, inclusion and equity (DIE) will advance the cause
of science.
SHOOT.
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