Heterodox Out Loud

The Battle for Impartial Science with Anna Krylov | Ep 27

Jan 7, 2025

In this discussion, Anna Krylov, a Professor of Chemistry at USC known for her contributions in quantum chemistry and a champion of meritocracy, tackles the contentious influence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) on scientific progress. She shares concerns about how DEI mandates could undermine merit-based funding and public trust in science. The conversation dives into the implications of gender quotas, the rise of 'citation justice,' and the potential societal costs of prioritizing ideology over objective inquiry, questioning the future integrity of scientific research.

01:04:10

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Episode guests

Anna Krylov

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Quick takeaways

The emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in scientific funding can undermine meritocracy, stifling innovation and creating public mistrust.

Current challenges to liberal epistemology threaten the objectivity of scientific discourse by evaluating knowledge based on identity rather than merit.

Deep dives

The Impact of Gender Quotas on Scientific Merit

Implementing gender quotas in hiring can compromise the quality of candidates in academia and other fields. Specifically, universities like MIT have been noted for following such quotas, resulting in hiring outcomes that may not reflect the best talent available. Hiring equal numbers of women and men does not guarantee that the women hired will match the top-tier qualifications of the best men due to the inherent asymmetry in applicant pools. This deviation from meritocracy poses risks, particularly in scientific disciplines where unique combinations of talent and creativity are essential for breakthroughs.

Intro

3min

Science Under Scrutiny

23min

Women in Science: Legacy and Progress

6min

Merit vs. DEI in Scientific Funding

20min

The Impact of Diversity Quotas on Academic Merit

3min

The Societal Cost of Ideology in Science

4min

Conference on Censorship in the Sciences

4min

Can the ideological emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) slow down the progress of science? Our guest today is Anna Krylov, professor of chemistry at the University of Southern California and an advocate for maintaining meritocracy in scientific funding and evaluation. She joins John Tomasi to discuss critical tensions in today's scientific landscape.

Krylov addresses the potential social costs of slower scientific progress due to ideological influences, particularly DEI, which she argues undermines public trust in scientific institutions. This episode delves into the fraught terrain of funding in academia and the impact of DEI mandates, examining how these changes may contribute to public mistrust and the erosion of merit-based systems.

In This Episode:

The effects of DEI mandates on scientific funding
The importance of merit-based funding in academia
The rise of "citation justice" and its impact on scholarly recognition
Gender quotas and their potential implications for scientific standards
Critical social justice influences on scientific practices

Censorship in the Sciences Conference: https://dornsife.usc.edu/cesr/censorship-in-the-sciences-interdisciplinary-perspectives/

About Anna:

Anna Krylov is a Professor of Chemistry at USC and a leading figure in theoretical and computational quantum chemistry. Born in Ukraine, she earned her degrees from Moscow State University and the Hebrew University. Krylov's research focuses on methods for electronic excited species and has led to over 300 publications. She has received numerous awards, including the Dirac Medal, and is a Fellow of various scientific societies. An advocate for gender equality in STEM, she also promotes academic freedom and authored the impactful paper "The Peril of Politicizing Science."

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