Science students are far more likely to be insensitive about their beliefs than students in other fields, according to a new study.
The study, based on a survey of more than 8,000 students at 133 universities, found that 51% of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students identified as nonreligious; It was found that this rate was slightly higher than the student average of 48%. percent.
However, even though nearly half of STEM students describe themselves as religious (including 28 percent who say they are Christian), many believe that secular thinking dominates their courses. He said he felt it.
The study found that around three in 10 students in STEM and medicine-related courses agreed that religious and non-religious differences create a “feeling of division” on campus, while in the arts, One in five students enrolled in the humanities and social sciences.
STEM and medical students were more likely to frequently hear or read insensitive comments about their worldview. Importantly, the proportion who reported hearing such comments from university staff (about 11 percent) was almost double the proportion seen in other fields.
Lucy Peacock, lead researcher on the year-long project and a research fellow at Coventry University's Center for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, said the findings were alarming and had significant implications for students' academic engagement. He said it could have an impact.
He said interviewees shared some worrying stories of insensitivity and divisiveness that made them question whether STEM was right for them, but many of them turned to religion to avoid conflict. It is said that he was self-censoring his expressions.
“This is itself a product of an insensitive and divisive academic atmosphere, and we know from extensive research on religion in higher education that self-censorship, a lack of cross-religious interaction, contributes to overall differences among students. We know it's having a negative impact on interfaith development,'' she said.
Dr Peacock said the lack of opportunities to discuss STEM subjects meant there was a failure to normalize religious beliefs.
“Despite the variety of religious worldviews that exist among STEM students, the perception that STEM departments are dominated by an atheist or agnostic worldview is simply being normalized.” she said.
The report makes a series of recommendations on how universities across the UK can improve their STEM environments, including not scheduling work on religious holidays and ensuring students remain silent in labs. These include allowing appropriate religious clothing to be worn at religious offices and normalizing informal talk of religion among religious staff.
Dr. Peacock said that if universities do nothing, students will be less able to engage in academic work, less willing to work across religious and worldview differences, and less safe to express their religious commitments. I warned you that this is a possibility. This could impact the recruitment of STEM students.
Additionally, she said universities will not meet their equality, diversity and inclusion obligations, leading to discriminatory and insensitive STEM workplaces.
“If insensitive and divisive experiences related to religion continue in STEM education, one might reasonably expect that this climate of insensitivity and divisiveness will persist even after graduates reach university. No,” she said.
patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com
