Many of you are probably old museumcampers. Nina Simon, Lauren Bentua, and many others would host us in the halls of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art. And like Camp, those people you talked to huddled late at night in the Lobby hold a special place in your heart. Ivel is one of my fellow campers. She has a big heart and a great smile. Combine this with a conviction that science education can be part of a more just social, and you have an extraordinary voice to think where we go next in this field.
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Injustice In Science [Museums]
These days it seems like all cultural institutions and organizations have put out a statement rebuking racism and aligning with justice movements, science museums and centers are also joining in. The statements purport “standing with the Black community” and to be “devastated by the murders”. It’s hard to see now how these statements will manifest into meaningful action, especially since it seems like many of these same institutions have been languishing over issues of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) for decades. The systems in which these organizations are operating under are not designed with these tenets as part of their fabric, in fact the opposite is true. Organizations are perpetuating systems of oppression by their very nature. Science is not absolved from justice issues. Historically, these institutions have claimed the “neutrality” and “objectivity” of science to divorce themselves from reckoning publicly with systemic racism. The veil of neutrality has been lifted, the time to bring justice to the forefront is now.
One of the ways I have thought about this in my own life (as a person of color) is “how do I thrive in a system I am actively trying to overthrow”, it seems counterintuitive. If we map this line of thinking onto an entire organization it becomes even more problematic, there are Board of Directors and employees to contend with. When people talk about “systemic oppression” what are the systems they are referencing? What are their names? Is it capitalism? Is it the hierarchical structure of organizations? Sexism, racism? All of the above?
As a self proclaimed solutions oriented positivist I have been trying to overcome my helplessness by identifying promising ideas around change. I would like to share them with you, in case they resonate as something you could do and/or propose in your organization. When we think about mapping these ideas onto an organization I think about how museum leadership can take these on personally as individuals (CEO, COO) and as departments (Human Resources, Education) and so on.
Accountability- any statement about an institutional position on racial equity should be accompanied by what action steps the organization is undertaking to challenge the status quo. Acknowledging your role in structural racism is a good start but not enough, what are you going to do about it? Who is keeping you accountable?
Vulnerability- it’s ok to be wrong and to not know what to say, don’t let that paralyze you. Especially when it comes to creating a space where we can grow and come to terms with the extent and ramifications of privilege. No one is expecting you to have all the answers- cultivate the courage to admit that and work on this together with others. Be transparent about it.
Humility- most of the great leaders I have known have been humble. What does it mean to truly embody the principles of being a work in progress? Admit you don’t know everything, don’t pose thoughts as gospel, be ready to admit fault, don’t cling onto your dogmas so tightly, and elevate the voices of those around you.
Patience & Persistence- these have to go together! I get tired, I take a break, I keep on it. It's helpful to know that resistance can take on different forms and important to know that it is slow. I have to remind myself often of this because I want to see change happening yesterday, which it did, and does keep on happening.
Coalition Building- you can’t do it all by yourself! FInd people who are interested in doing the work and surround yourself with them. Follow them on social media and connect with them if you need help. Not everyone (maybe not even most) will be motivated to do this kind of work, don’t be too discouraged by this, focus on your journey.
Science museums are a forum and a space for communities to tackle issues that are important to them- climate change, poverty, food insecurity, air and water quality. Science has a role to play in creating a more just society and science museums are an integral (and I hope inextricable) part of that. They are connectors that work to bridge scientific communities & research with people who don’t necessarily identify with the scientific enterprise. They inspire curiosity, promote inquiry, encourage failure and critical inquiry, it’s a good time to focus on doing these things with a lens of social justice!
Ivel Gontan is a Community Science Fellow at the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC), she has spent the last 7 years working in science museums with a focus on connecting communities to science to advance their own priorities.