Royal Society of Chemistry report says racism 'pervasive'

Image source, Andrew Marlow Hallsworth

Only one of the chemistry professors in the UK is black.

The UK Research and Innovation agency turned down all of Robert Mokaya's applications for funding for research projects in the 15 years he has been a professor.

He tells me that it is not typical for a professor to do that.

I had research papers published which I would have expected to be able to get funding for follow-up research.

I wonder if this is normal for someone of my kind.

He says it has been difficult.

The name of the applicants is known to the reviewers who decide on funding applications.

Robert has done well despite the rejections. He is a materials chemist who studies the study of materials for sustainable energy storage.

He was able to do his research because of funding from charities and learned societies, such as the Royal Society, which only funds researchers with a track record of excellence in their work.

Robert is a pro-vice-chancellor at the university.

An investigation by the RSC shows that racism is pervasive in the field. It is hard to challenge the marginalisation of minorities in universities and industry according to the report.

Robert's experience shows that minority ethnic researchers are less likely to get grant funding, promotions and are paid less than their white counterparts. The average grant for a minority ethnic chemical sciences researcher was three times higher than for white colleagues.

The stories of discrimination she had seen as part of the investigation were shocking.

Racism is a reality of chemical sciences, just as it is in wider society, she said.

We need to do better. We need to make a difference.

Image source, Sandile Mtetwa

Prof Melanie Welham, UKRI's executive champion for people, culture and talent, told the news agency that the agency was reviewing its processes to address concerns about equal treatment.

We know we must do more and we are committed to doing so.

This includes learning how to incorporate effective practice on equality, diversity and inclusion in our expert review and assessment practices, such as through double-blind reviewing, and allowing applicants to evidence their contributions in a wider range of ways.

The report shows that ethnic minority students are interested in studying chemistry at university, but they are put off by the atmosphere of academic research. This is also true of black students.

4.9% of students studying chemistry-related subjects identify as black, compared to 3.0% of the UK population, according to official figures. Most people don't enter research. 1.4% of postgraduate chemistry researchers identify as black, 1% of lecturers and zero of professors fall away at every stage of their career.

Robert laughs and says "I don't exist!"

There are no black professors in the official statistics because the number 1 is rounded to zero. Robert has a good sense of humor, but as he tells me about his journey to becoming the UK's only black chemistry professor, he loses it. He says it has been a struggle.

It is necessary to get signals from more senior colleagues that it is time to apply for a more senior role. The signals I got early in my career were that this is not the place for you and it is not the right time for you.

This was the most difficult part of my career and it is where the main problem is for black chemists. It got better once I broke through.

Sandile Mtetwa is a PhD student. She started a group for African students. She says many of them have decided not to fight. They decided to get jobs in the private sector because they didn't want to go into academic research.

The chemical sciences community is network driven. She tells me that you have to know someone.

Someone senior has to help you get a position and get a grant. If someone is not cheering for you, you cannot do much about it.

The report says that there is little incentive to improve. It says that most initiatives are voluntary and have a limited impact.

Only 21 universities out of 93 that signed up hold a bronze Race Equality Charter award, run by the higher education charity Advance HE. The scheme was launched in 2016 but no silver or gold award has been given. A target was set by an independent review in 2016 to have one director from a minority ethnic background on every board by 2021.

The race and ethnicity unit has been created by the RSC. It has set up a five-year mentoring scheme to help school leavers follow to chemistry-focused degrees and is working with employers to provide ethnic minority students with job opportunities and to help them with their career progression.

Robert Mokaya hopes that the initiatives will bring about changes for the next generation of ethnic minority chemical scientists.

I'm concerned for those coming through the system.

I don't think it is fair for those who get to a senior position in chemical sciences to have to go through what I have gone through.