In her early career, evolutionary ecologist Maydianne Andrade faced frequent requests to engage in equity initiatives. As a Black woman in academia, she was hesitant, feeling her involvement was merely a formality. During conference discussions on women and people of color in science, she often heard stories reflecting her own struggles but was frustrated by the absence of solid data examining collective experiences.
Anecdotes didn’t lead to real solutions.
About ten years ago, Andrade took an implicit association test which revealed her subconscious bias, associating positive traits with whiteness and negative traits with Blackness. This revelation compelled her to delve into social-science literature on discrimination and bias, igniting her commitment to advocacy.
‘Computing is a Black people’s thing’
Now, as a researcher at the University of Toronto, studying black widow spiders (Latrodectus), Andrade also co-founded the Canadian Black Scientists Network and leads the Toronto Initiative for Diversity and Excellence (TIDE). These groups foster equity and inclusion within the university, Canada’s largest. Their efforts engage with parliament and universities to drive lasting change. Last December, she was awarded the Trailblazer Award by the Canadian Science Policy Centre for her outstanding leadership. Andrade shared insights into her advocacy work with Nature.
What passion has driven you as a scientist?
Curiosity has always been my driving force. Animals’ ability to adapt based on environmental signals fascinates me. I love the idea of gathering information to predict outcomes in natural systems, and I enjoy the challenge of complex equations.
My passion lies in ecology, evolution, behavior, and their interconnections. In my lab, we often have around 50,000 black widow spiders for mating experiments, where males can engage in fierce battles for females, a rarely seen phenomenon in nature.
Who has been your biggest influence and why?
I’ve had several mentors throughout my career. At Simon Fraser University, I took an introductory biology class taught by the esteemed behavioral ecologist Larry Dill. He began each lecture with a compelling research story and later provided invaluable support as I applied to graduate school. He once shared a letter of recommendation with me, noting that my greatest flaw was underestimating my potential. This insightful acknowledgment was incredibly meaningful, especially as I navigated feelings of imposter syndrome as a minority in the academic world.
Why is diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism work important to you?
As a parent, I reflect on my past experiences and realize how much unfairness, bias, and inappropriateness I encountered but didn’t recognize at the time. Discrimination often leads individuals to doubt their worth, and unaddressed bias can erode academic talent and innovation. By ignoring the broader context of discrimination, we inadvertently contribute to the problem.
How have you dealt with racism or discrimination in your personal and professional life?
Communication with family, friends, and professional allies has been crucial. They provide support and often reaffirm the validity of my feelings. Sometimes during meetings, they’ll highlight what I contributed, which can temper negative interactions.
A big part of my coping mechanism comes from my love for science. Focusing on my research and my spiders allows me to let negative remarks slide off. However, over time, I’ve become more aware of the challenges around me.
Alongside my research, I engage in knowledge translation, which involves educating others about bias and inclusion and how to improve the academic evaluation of talent. I’ve found that simply presenting data on bias doesn’t resonate with everyone, as many don’t see themselves as part of the problem. My goal is to assist those willing to make changes by helping them develop actionable solutions.
Racism and discrimination leave an impact, and if we don’t confront these issues, they hinder our progress and can foster ongoing anger. While I’ve been grappling with these emotions, I’ve managed to keep them under control.
How has your work helped to move things forward?
The Canadian Black Scientists Network launched in 2020 with just 20 members and has grown to over 1,000, many of whom are young trainees. We’re creating partnerships to help individuals secure jobs, including roles in government.
In 2022, we successfully advocated for government scholarship funding specifically for Black scholars at all educational levels. We’ve also contributed to defining what it means to be ‘Black’ in various initiatives and aided in a successful grant for including Black Canadians in a genomic database aimed at precision medicine. Additionally, we have worked with the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology to empower young Black individuals through science leadership training.
Younger individuals often express that they feel isolated, being the only representative of their backgrounds at conferences or on their campuses. The fatigue from always being visible without role models can be overwhelming. Hearing that we’ve inspired them to persist has been incredibly rewarding.
Summary: Maydianne Andrade, an evolutionary ecologist at the University of Toronto, has transformed her early skepticism about equity work into a passionate advocacy for diversity and inclusion in academia. Following a powerful self-discovery regarding her own biases, she co-founded the Canadian Black Scientists Network and leads initiatives like TIDE to support equity at her university. Through mentorship and community-building, she’s helping to reshape the academic landscape for future generations.
