Break Your Cultural Biases & Say Goodbye to Trans-Atlantic Camel Riders!

By Oreoluwa O. Adedoyin, PhD

"Did you ride a camel on your way from Africa to the United States?”

“How did you survive travelling across the Sahara desert?”

“Did you grow up seeing lions and tigers roaming around?”

As a college-educated immigrant from Nigeria, I was dumbfounded, and momentarily speechless, when I heard these questions from American elementary students during a university organized cross-cultural education tour. On the tour, about 8 years ago, we were visiting one of the counties in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. I was surprised that elementary school students could contemplate and verbalize such questions in an era of easily accessible information through the Internet, although perhaps some of these children did not enjoy this service in their homes and/or schools. 

During a period of quiet self-reflection, as we headed back to campus, my own questions were:  How do you answer 5 and 6-year-old elementary school students who may not have met or interacted with someone from a different country or continent, and who looks different from them? How do you respond to children or young students who are genuinely curious, but do not know how to ask a question without relying on inaccurate and stereotypical biases?

Research shows that children develop misconceptions about other people through uninformed assumptions, socialization of perceived cultural superiority, and reinforced negative media portrayals. When false and unfounded perceptions about other races, immigrant groups, or ethnic nationalities are left unchallenged by the different social institutions (such as the home, school, media, etc.), these false impressions become ingrained as a belief system. This belief system can evolve into a prejudicial view, cultural scaffold, and an indivisible part of children’s thinking process throughout their lifespans.

In fact, we all are probably guilty of this prejudiced thinking, or “implicit bias”, about race, ethnicity, and gender, no matter how “color-blind” or “objective” we think we are, according to Dr. Molly Carnes, doctor of internal medicine, epidemiologist, and a leader in raising awareness about the negative impact of stereotypes in science, engineering and leadership.

This past spring, I heard Dr. Carnes speak on “Breaking the Bias Habit ® as part of Mentoring Week at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Currently, I am a UAB postdoctoral trainee in the Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, working under the mentorship of Drs. Jim George and Anupam Agarwal. Events like Mentoring Week keep me thinking long after the speakers have left.

Why does the bias habit matter?

 
It matters because Dr. Carnes cites numerous studies that show how it is part of human nature to make “group assumptions” that are simply not true. Unfortunately, these assumptions can be argued as one of the several reasons why fewer women and minorities are not pursuing careers in science and engineering fields as well as in leadership positions. It is unsurprising that these untrue assumptions may inadvertently contribute to lower pay for women and minorities in research or academia. These convoluted assumptions overtime are passed from one generation to another, which may be the reason why elementary school students would confidently ask if an African immigrant female with a slight English accent must have ridden on camels across the Sahara desert to get to the U.S.

As I listened to Dr. Carnes, I thought about how we can begin to address cultural biases. The world is regarded as a global village, and with unprecedented access to the Internet, very many questions can be answered with a few simple clicks and online searches. However, using just the resources on the Internet to answer such questions may be affected by pitfalls of half-truths or totally false information for young students (and even adults).

Another strategy is to encourage traveling to other parts of the world to see other people groups and their unique ways of living first-hand. Travelling presents another opportunity to break cultural biases, though this might be quite expensive. However, where and when affordable, it may provide a new socialization and learning experience for school kids such as I encountered years ago.

Still, I strongly believe that cultural immersion experiences are unique experiences that can help remove misconceptions, educate, and enlighten the public about other cultures or countries. As I pondered over this issue, I was reminded of an old Turkish adage: “If the mountain won't come to you, you must go to the mountain.”

So, how do we go to the mountain? I suggest that the community of international students, postdocs, and faculty in institutions of higher learning like UAB see themselves as ambassadors of their countries of origin.  Wherever they go, they should help educate and enlighten people about their countries of origin in these new or host communities.

For example, I grew up as part of the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria the most populous African country with over 160 million people and multiple ethnic groups. Though the official language is English, there are at least over 500 different ethnic languages, spoken in Nigeria. Despite our differences in cultures, languages, cuisines, and religions, we were taught to cherish and appreciate our unity despite our diversity. Thus, whenever I participate in such cultural exchange outreach programs I try to teach the kids about the Nigerian culture, respectful greetings, showcase some traditional attires, share folk tales and songs, as well as cultural dance steps especially from my Yoruba tribe.

“If we truly want to break an old bad habit, it is not enough to be well intentioned”, says Dr. Carnes. Old habits should be assessed and in the words of Dr. Carnes: “It takes awareness, motivation, self-efficacy, the expectation of positive outcomes and plenty of practice to develop a new habit of mind, one that is culturally rich, inclusive, and bias-free”.

That is why it is important to provide opportunities for younger students to interact with people from a different culture, race, country, or continent which may help these students develop tolerance, and debunk misconceptions/false media portrayals. These cross-cultural learning and exchange opportunities will enable these students to appreciate that we after all, are all humans with similar passions, goals, and hobbies even though we may look different, or have a different accent.

Imagine what we could do, create, problem-solve, and forge together if we really respect how rich, diverse, smart and valuable other people from other countries and other cultures are?

And lest I forget, I didn’t ride across the Sahara desert in a camel to get here. I flew in an airplane!!!

Master Science as a Second Language: But Don’t Forget your First

Text and Photo by Nicholas Potochick

“Inhibition of non-canonical translational initiation reduces elongation rate in eukaryotic ribosomes lacking non-essential ribosomal protein eS25 by adopting irregular translocational conformational states…”

 Zzzzzzzz…See … I lost you, didn’t I?

That’s my problem. In fact it’s the problem of a lot of scientists. Science naturally deals with a lot of complex jargon that requires communication of important ideas to be precise and technical. Yet this language can be difficult to grasp, or just incredibly dull, to those who aren’t experts. Hence, while science-ese serves a purpose among scientists, it becomes a fool-proof cure for insomnia when we try to talk to non-scientists.

So, let’s try this again. Take two, this time without the sleep-inducing language.

“I study a protein that helps your body interpret very specific types of genetic code, and without it, your cells can’t read that code. My research is important because some potentially dangerous viruses mimic this type of genetic code to trick your body into making viruses. Oh, and you know what else uses these special genetic codes? Cancer.”

I bet that caught your attention.

When science is written only for scientists, as it is in academic journals, it’s hard for the average person to understand the importance of the work done in a research lab. When we scientists don’t take the time to translate our work back to our native language, we don’t communicate why it matters. When we don’t show why it matters, our research doesn’t get funded. And we don’t make progress towards treating cancer and curing diseases.

Getting the picture?

“The protein I study is found in the ribosome, the machinery of the cell that converts RNA into proteins. I know what the protein does when you are sick, but what does it do when you are well? I use a method called Polysome Analysis to see how effectively the ribosomes are converting RNA. Specifically, I use chemicals to throw a wrench into the ribosome’s gears while it performs specific tasks. This method enables me to see if cells without the protein of interest are getting worse at reading RNA. It’s important to know what something does before you remove it, or you could end up make people sicker instead of better.”

Is it becoming clearer?

One reason for the disconnect between science-ese and the common tongue is because, in the past, scientists were not taught how to talk to the public. For example, I was not urged to take a course in science communication when earning my bachelor’s degree in biology at Oakland University. Currently, I’m earning a PhD in Biomedical Science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), and up until recently, all of my focus was on learning my science.

Today, however, I am involved in innovative new programs encouraging new scientists to explore opportunities away from the research bench and engage the public. I enrolled in UAB’s Experiences program through the university’s Office of Postdoctoral Education. This program offers a science communication boot camp that provides hands on instruction for learning to talk and write about science in a way that is accessible to the public. It also helps us expand other critical job skills, such as research administration, policy making, and entrepreneurship, which may be sought after by biotech companies.

“In conclusion, we found that normal, healthy cells without our protein aren’t seriously harmed, but cells producing certain viruses and certain types of cancer are. Now we need to continue this research to figure out how best to use this knowledge to help people prevent or fight disease.”

Not bad, huh? With a little practice, I think I can become completely bilingual.     

 

What I’m Working On: A “Sweet” Cure for Skin Cancer

By Erin M. Burns, PhD, MSPH

“We are going to have to do something to cover up those tan lines!”

“Your back is so tanned, you look like a native islander!”

“Erin, you are going to get skin cancer!”

I am blonde and wear a fair-skinned coat in winter. But these are just a couple of exclamations I heard through my high school and college years as a bronzed, sun-worshiping lifeguard at our neighborhood pool. As Spring Break approaches on college campuses, and students I know head South with bikinis and beach towels, I think about the chances they are taking. And I worry.

Luckily, I am not one of the nearly 3 million Americans diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) annually with an update. But as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), I am researching preventive treatments for this type of skin cancer to help decrease the statistics and help change the way we think about health, beauty and yes, I know this is ambitious, Spring Break.

NMSC is the most common cancer and nearly completely preventable with the regular use of sunscreen. However, many people believe that they look better and healthier with a tan and continue to sunbathe or use tanning beds. Billions of dollars are spent treating NMSC each year. Although surgery successfully treats most NMSC, the surgeries can be disfiguring and nearly 9,000 people die annually. Needlessly.

Here is where my research comes in. We are working on treatments to prevent the development of skin cancer in the first place, even if people have been tanning for years, like I did in my youth. Our laboratory at UAB has been investigating a specific type of honey, and we found that by drinking water with this honey, tumor development is significantly decreased in our animal model (manuscript in progress).

This treatment has not been tested sufficiently in humans yet, but this sweet treatment could help reduce skin cancer incidence. In the future, as you are getting ready for a week at the beach for vacation, or Spring Break, you may be packing a beach umbrella , sunless tanning lotion, and a jar of honey.

In fact, now that I think about it, Winnie the Pooh was right: “The only reason for being a bee is to make honey. And the only reason for making honey is so I can eat it.”

Have a Sweet Spring Break!

What I'm Working on: LA Anxiety? Welcome to the Jungle

By Dr. Alex Van Ness

The running of the bulls in Pamplona? Indiana Jones fleeing the boulder?!? Yeah, they’ve got nothing on me.

I’m talking about the recent International Stroke Conference (ISC) in Los Angeles, California. I have to admit that learning of this location provoked something akin to PTSD in me. The last time I was in Los Angeles for an ISC meeting, I was traumatized.

Imagine, if you will, a budding physician-scientist walking back from the conference center on a sunny California afternoon, mulling over the latest clinical trials, pulling a stuffed laptop case. Suddenly, a red double-decker bus comes out of nowhere, blasting some sort of horrible sound that passes for music. I turned and looked, unable to ignore the music any more than I could an ice pick in my brain. The bus was large and filled with ponytail sporting Tweens, all of whom appeared to be screaming or singing along to a throbbing and undecipherable jingle.

Streetwise, I tucked my head and tried to ignore them, while continuing down the sidewalk to my hotel. The next thing I knew, something, a projectile of sorts, hit me in the right shoulder. When I looked around, the only possible culprit was the double-decker bus. On the ground, lay a red bundle. Instinctively, I picked it up, stuffed it in my bag, and kept walking. I didn’t even make it another block before I sustained another direct hit—this time by a white tube-like structure. Again, I saw no one around me except the ponytailed troop on that double-decker bus. Realizing that the second piece of ammo was a T-shirt, I deduced that the singing ponytails were sniping me using T-shirt guns.

That was it.  A woman has her limits.  I accelerated and veered left, shaking them off the trail to my hotel. Just when I thought I had escaped, I was surrounded by high-pitched screams. Looking over my shoulder, I confronted a herd of girls running right at me (not unlike that terrible scene from “The Lion King.”)  I quickly realized I was trapped between the charging pigtails and a performance stage. I did what any sane academic would do… I grabbed the handle of my laptop pull case and ran for my life!

I didn’t stop until I reached the hotel lobby, a sweating, panting heap. I must have looked shaken, because the bartender inquired about my well-being. Astutely, he offered me a drink, and I ordered a Tanqueray and tonic with two limes.While I was still gathering my bearings at bar, one of my colleagues approached me and asked what was wrong. I described the traumatic event. After comforting me with a series of snorts and laughs, she inquired about the projectiles that struck me.

I took them out of my bag, holding them at arm’s length for her to see. Chuckling, she asked if I knew who Justin Bieber was. Who??? He is a pop icon starring at a concert nearby, she explained, happily securing the T-shirts in her backpack for her daughters. I said I hoped that her daughters would appreciate the genuine artifacts, given that I had risked my life acquiring them. She was pretty sure that they would since “he’s to die for.”