Francis S. Collins
The Virtual Changing the culture of science to end sexual harassment
By Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.; Director, NIH
Sexual harassment is about power. The goal of the perpetrator, most commonly but not exclusively a man, is to objectify, exclude, demoralize, diminish, and coerce the victim, most commonly a woman, to exert power over her. It’s morally indefensible, it’s unacceptable, and it presents a major obstacle that is keeping women from achieving their rightful place in science — as trainees representing the next generation of innovators, as researchers making important scientific discoveries, and as senior personnel on NIH-supported grants. I was disheartened to read the conclusions of the recent National Academies report, which NIH funded along with other government science agencies, finding no evidence that current policies, procedures, and approaches have significantly reduced sexual harassment in academic sciences, engineering, and medicine. It is clear we must do more to change the fundamental culture of our organizations. Read more.
By Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D.; Director, NIH
Sexual harassment is about power. The goal of the perpetrator, most commonly but not exclusively a man, is to objectify, exclude, demoralize, diminish, and coerce the victim, most commonly a woman, to exert power over her. It’s morally indefensible, it’s unacceptable, and it presents a major obstacle that is keeping women from achieving their rightful place in science — as trainees representing the next generation of innovators, as researchers making important scientific discoveries, and as senior personnel on NIH-supported grants. I was disheartened to read the conclusions of the recent National Academies report, which NIH funded along with other government science agencies, finding no evidence that current policies, procedures, and approaches have significantly reduced sexual harassment in academic sciences, engineering, and medicine. It is clear we must do more to change the fundamental culture of our organizations. Read more.
