Shane Bergin’s hopeful message for inclusivity in research

Shane Bergin, a physicist, science communicator and associate professor at University College Dublin, has launched a podcast called "We Are Fellowship" to promote inclusivity in research. The six-part series, funded by the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), features 15 researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplines to discuss their experiences.

Bergin aims to explore the concept of "fellowship" through connectivity, curiosity, and nurturing these aspects. The MSCA, which has funded over 150,000 researchers since its inception 30 years ago, helps researchers move between countries, develop transferable skills, and build international participation in Europe. Bergin highlights the importance of connecting with each other as researchers, as well as embracing curiosity and nurturing it.

He notes that researchers face challenges in a world increasingly threatened by anti-intellectualism and prejudices. One interviewee, Dr Karen de la Vega-Hernández, a Cuban researcher, shared her struggles adapting to a new environment, including navigating visa processes and feeling like a representation of her roots in her new home.

Bergin emphasizes that diversity and intersectionality are an epistemic strength, and researchers shouldn't be expected to be excellent at everything. Each person brings their own strength to the table, and this podcast aims to foster a sense of community and openness to improvement within the science community.