Science is Embarrassingly White. That’s a Huge Problem.

Type the word scientist into Google image search, and you’ll overwhelmingly get a bunch of white faces in return. Even the cartoon scientists are white.

Sadly, this is a microcosm of the state of science today. Researchers are largely monochromatic. It’s no matter that the country is becoming more multicultural and interracial. What that means is that science—the very thing that’s supposed to be unbiased—ends up reinforcing our prejudices and injustices. The consequences are far-reaching in their economic, intellectual and social impact.

For example, as many as three quarters of Pacific Islanders don’t metabolize a commonly prescribed anti-blood clotting drug properly due to a genetic condition prevalent in that population. That means the drug doesn’t do much for them in terms of preventing heart attacks, strokes or even death. The study that paved the way for that medication’s widespread use was 95% white. African-Americans have some of the highest rates of cancer, but their inclusion in cancer-related clinical trials is lower than for whites, according to a 2014 study. The most widely used asthma medications don’t work...