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Kentucky State University President M. Christopher Brown II spoke on the topic of dismantling racism in science recently with representatives across the commonwealth as part of the Kentucky Academy of Science’s (KAS) dialogue series. 

President Brown was joined by Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE) President Dr. Aaron Thompson. Kentucky State’s Dr. Wanda Gonsalves and Dr. Pernella Deams, who served as moderators.  

President Brown noted that the myth of racial groups being fundamentally different and having different interests in science as untrue. 

“Access to the study of science differs by racial community and economic community,” President Brown said. 

Some schools may have a larger budget for science curriculum, thus affecting the quality of instruction. 

Representation is also a key issue, President Brown said. 

“The visual presentation of teachers of color in science departments varies from community to community,” President Brown said. “Those who encounter a teacher of color who makes content accessible leads to an increase in the likelihood for the student to not have STEM phobia.” 

The presence of a poster of any of the litany of great Black scientists in classrooms could also help, President Brown said. 

“Despite a rich history of African American participation in science, there is still the belief it is not our terrain,” President Brown said.  

President Brown also discussed the importance of culturally relevant pedagogy and raising expectations set for the students. 

HBCUs, President Brown said, produce 25 percent of the African American undergraduate STEM degrees in the nation despite only making up 3 percent of all higher education institutions.