Diversity Needed in the Field of Astrophysics

Last month was Black History Month, and I think a conversation must be had about African Americans in astrophysics, as well as physics in general. Data taken from a reputable source, datausa.io, proves that between the years 2013 and 2017 the mean percentage of degrees awarded to African Americans is a grand total of 1.7 percent. This is shameful. In the year 2017 while Caucasian people were awarded 202 degrees in total, African Americans were only awarded five.

The exact mean number of degrees awarded in the range of 2013 to 2017 is four, rounded down to the closest whole number. How does that compare with their Caucasian peers? One-hundred and fifty-four degrees per year rounded up to the nearest whole number. It is also important to note that 70 percent of degrees awarded in five of the institutions that graduate the most astrophysicists are male. Meaning only 30 percent of those degrees were awarded to females. One can deduce that Black females are awarded less degrees than bBack males.

In a field like astrophysics, the variety and diversity in perspective is necessary, as certain astronomical questions or puzzles would require different sets of eyes. The more diverse the population of scientists, the more diverse the perspectives, the more likely a problem gets solved. Sometimes, even the hardest of questions can be solved once you observe from a different perspective. Solutions are as relative to the position of the observer as light.

Diversity is needed and should be welcomed in the field of astrophysics, and something must be done to encourage more African Americans to be a part of the astronomical community. Something must be done to bridge the gap. I hope we, as a community, start to welcome African Americans as well as all people of color as the rates are relatively low for every race that isn’t Caucasian, according to the data in datausa.io. Although the data itself was pretty horrific to look at, the worst thing was that it seemed like it wasn’t getting better. The percentage of degrees awarded to African Americans seemed to fluctuate around the mean number I provided—1.7 percent. The most recent data is in 2017, with 1.51 percent. This is lower than the average for 2013-2017. I can only hope we increase this number as years go by.

David Muqattash is a senior at Yorktown High School.