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  Behavioral biases that complicate Equality of Opportunity and how to take action against them. (Jan 30 2024)

This event will be a talk by Matthias Kating about how we all must continuously act on creating equal opportunities for everyone in order to secure our success by recognizing and actively mitigating these biases through targeted strategies and data-driven approaches to create a more equitable and inclusive future for all of us in all spheres of life.

Abstract

In the field of university mathematics, fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment is imperative for the advancement of both knowledge and society. Historically, women have been underrepresented in this discipline, leading to a persistent gender disparity at universities. It is not logical that there is a gender gap in mathematics. The main message of this speech is that “We all must consciously act on creating equal opportunities for everyone in order to secure our success".

As will be shown research clearly states that there are only few measurable differences between men and women that can be validated such as “muscle strength” and the personality trait “Agreeableness” and “Aggressiveness” (60:40 ratio). We all agree, that these differences may matter little to nothing regarding the success in the domain of mathematics, as there are different criteria for success such as intelligence. Therefore, it is only logical that we must optimize our chances for success in this field by enabling every person capable and willing to contribute to our success and create an environment in the university which creates equal chances regardless of unimportant criteria such as gender or place of birth for example. However, as humans, we must first understand that we are prone to so called behavioral biases which subconsciously influences our decisions and communication regarding the other gender, even in the field of mathematics. This means, that we may think that we actively support and promote the participation and chances for women in mathematics however we may not act upon that premise since these biases affect us subconsciously. Current research and definitions of behavioral biases is presented together with several examples from daily life to become aware of where possible traps can exist within one's own behavior.

In the second part of the speech different kinds of biases and coherent research are explored in depth, such as the confirmation bias, the affinity bias, the halo effect and the stereotype threat.

In the third and final part, possible solutions and counteractions against these biases will be shown. These solutions will encompass strategies for promoting diversity in decision-making bodies, establishing mentorship programs, and implementing policies to ensure equitable access to opportunities. Additionally, implementing a blind structured evaluation process, setting clear and objective criteria for decision-making can help us stay aware. Finally, in our daily interaction visible role models, growth mindset training, and communication set the stage for individuals to feel valued and supported irrespective of their gender.

In conclusion, “we all must consciously act on creating equal opportunities for everyone in order to secure our success" by recognizing and actively mitigating these biases through targeted strategies and data-driven approaches to create a more equitable and inclusive future for all of us in all spheres of life.