Who are the members of the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education and Research, and what do they do? This time, we would like to introduce Susanne Täuber. Susanne is a social scientist and affiliated researcher in sociology (UvA). She is an expert in gender equality and intersectional inequality, social safety, and abuse of power in science. She is also an editorial board member of a journal for gender studies.
Social safety
Susanne: ‘I am mainly active in the areas of monitoring and social safety. In these areas, I collaborate with colleagues, respond to developments in the sector, and write recommendations.
I came to the Netherlands from former East Germany in 2009 for work. The culture in Germany is different than in the Netherlands. There, you can argue your case with good arguments. In the Netherlands, harmony stays central. Preferably with everyone on the same page. Differences are quickly associated with conflict, which often stands in the way of diversity and inclusion. As a social scientist, I notice these contradictions.'
Science is for and by everyone
'Science should serve society, but too often power, hierarchy, and privilege play a role. This has to change. Science is for and by everyone.
The Young Academy of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, for example, is committed to equal rights for lecturers and professors. Although university lecturers and senior lecturers have largely the same duties as professors, they do not have the same rights. With its ‘Everyone a professor!’ campaign, the Young Academy advocates decoupling the rights associated with a PhD program from the job profile of a professor and granting these rights to all university lecturers and associate professors. This is a great initiative for a more equitable system.'
Quality counts
'It is important that the quality of scientific insight counts, regardless of skin color, origin, and gender. Much more diversity is needed at the top of education. It is important to reflect on your own position in the system and to give people from different backgrounds a voice. Diversity goes beyond simply saying that you think it is important.
I am committed to improvement in all kinds of areas, for example through research, by mentoring young people, and by supporting colleagues who have become stuck in this system."
Dr. Susanne Täuber she/her