Jennifer Raymond, Stanford University School of Medicine

SFI News:

The Santa Fe Institute presents Unconscious Bias by Jennifer Raymond at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at the James A. Little Theater, 1060 Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe.

What makes a police officer actually see a gun in the hands of an unarmed man of color? Why did 360 college students evaluate the same academic article more favorably when they believed it was written by a man rather than by a woman?

Unconscious or implicit bias refers to hidden biases, operating largely beneath the scope of human consciousness, that influence the ways we see and treat others – even when we are determined to be fair and objective. It underlies racism, sexism, ageism, and other forms of discrimination. But it’s not all bad news; recent research suggests there are methods to reduce implicit bias in our culture.

Jennifer Raymond, a nationally recognized expert in bias, will describe how and why such bias forms, where it comes from, why it is so difficult to correct, and practical ways to combat it. Dr. Raymond is an associate professor of neurobiology and associate dean, Office of Diversity and Leadership, Stanford University School of Medicine.

There will be a test … Dr. Raymond has asked that everyone take the free IAT (Implicit Attitudes Test) before the presentation. Visit www.implicit.harvard.edu and take the gender IAT. You might be both surprised and enlightened!

SFI Vice President for Science Jennifer Dunne will introduce Raymond.

Note: This special event is cosponsored by the Women’s International Study Center (WISC) and the Santa Fe Institute and is not an SFI Community Lecture.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Get tickets early at www.unconscious bias/brownpapertickets.com. For more information, call the WISC at 505.983.6538.