Report on the Next Generation Leadership Researchers Roundtable Conference II

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July 29, 2022, Kyoto University Global Vision Next Generation Top Researcher Development Program (L-INSIGHT) / Hokkaido University Diversity and Inclusion Promotion Headquarters (DEIThe Promotion Headquarters hosted the "Next Generation Leadership Researchers Roundtable Conference II: Unraveling the Structures that Create Unconscious Biases and Considering How to Create a Research Environment Where Everyone Can Thrive." The purpose of this Roundtable Conference II was to understand the "structures that give rise to unconscious biases" as a foundation for cultivating "leadership that draws innovation from diversity," and to gain an overview of the current state of each participant's research environment, thereby recognizing challenges and discussing solutions.

The event was co-sponsored by the Research Human Resource Development Promotion Office (L-Station) of the Institute for Advanced Studies at our university, with the cooperation of Kirin Holdings Company, Limited, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Shimadzu Corporation, and the Hokkaido Diversity Research Environment Promotion Network Conference (KNIT), and supported by the U.S. Consulate-General in Sapporo. It was broadcast online and attracted nearly 140 participants.

In her opening remarks, Vice President/Deputy Director Rika Yano of our university emphasized the importance of a research environment where each researcher can fully demonstrate their individuality, and delivered a strong message encouraging individuals from diverse backgrounds to hone their skills, challenge themselves, and pursue their dreams and potential.

In the opening remarks, Fellow Masanori Isobe (Kyoto University L-INSIGHT/University Hospital) explained the summary and statement from the previous "Roundtable Conference," and then stated the aim of this "Roundtable Conference II": to focus on the "privilege structure" that underlies all unconscious biases in the research environment and the difficulties that arise from it, and to use this time for all participants to consider the privilege structure as "their own problem," to explore the benefits of eliminating it and what each individual can do to achieve that.

In a video message from Consul Bow Miller (Consulate-General of the United States in Sapporo), he spoke about the current situation in the United States, where gender equality is being advanced as a "moral and strategic requirement."

In the Invited Talk, Professor Makiko Deguchi (Sophia University) gave a presentation titled "Making Majority Privileges Visible." She clearly explained that people belonging to groups that possess "ease obtained without effort (i.e., privilege)" (i.e., the majority) are often unaware of their own privileges, and that privilege is inextricably linked to discrimination. Therefore, in order to eliminate prejudice and discrimination, it is necessary to make majority privileges visible. She also spoke about the importance of the majority, once they become aware of their privileges, acting as allies.

After a break, the Round Table session featured 16 young researchers and graduate and undergraduate students from both universities, who divided into four teams for discussion. Of the four teams, the discussion of one team, facilitated by Fellow Akimasa Shiraishi (Kyoto University L-INSIGHT, Graduate School of Agriculture), was streamed via Zoom.
In the discussions within each team, participants first shared their opinions on familiar examples of unconscious bias and majority privilege, and the people and situations in which these hinder the development of their abilities. In the latter half of the discussions, there was a lively exchange of opinions on the benefits of achieving an environment where everyone can fully utilize their abilities.

In the Closing Remarks, under the guidance of Fellow Masanori Isobe, who also spoke in the Opening Remarks, the facilitator from each team presented a summary of their discussion on behalf of their team.
In the team led by Associate Professor Mokottunash Kitahara (Center for Ainu and Indigenous Studies, Hokkaido University), the privilege structures surrounding issues that women experience when thinking about their daily lives and futures, such as the difficulty women face in obtaining support for further education, the expectation that only women should be beautiful (including wearing makeup) and play supportive roles (cultural discrimination), and the lack of support from workplace and social customs and the healthcare system for physical differences unique to women, such as menstruation and childbirth (institutional discrimination), were discussed. The team also discussed the resulting lack of role models for women working as researchers. As a solution, they discussed the importance of raising awareness of the problems and the solutions being considered through public education and the media, and the effectiveness of initiatives that allow people to understand the above issues through experience.
A team led by Fellow Yukako Katsura (L-INSIGHT, Center for Human Behavioral Evolution, Kyoto University) concluded that it is necessary to understand the differences in situations and environments of people in various settings through communication, and that future institutional reforms will require diverse individuals, including not only the privileged class (majority) but also minorities, to take on leadership roles and incorporate the opinions of minorities.
In the team led by Assistant Professor Nako Maishi (L-Station, Graduate School of Dental Sciences, Hokkaido University), they shared the opinion that creating a structure in which everyone can demonstrate their abilities would create an environment where not only those currently in the minority group, but also those currently in the majority group who, due to unforeseen circumstances, might become minorities, can confidently demonstrate their abilities. Examples include the creation of a system where the government and universities provide assistance such as grants, rather than leaving it to the economic environment in which one grew up or being male. They also suggested actively giving opportunities to women who have not had the opportunity, such as entrusting them with leadership roles.
In the Zoom-streamed session with Fellow Shiraishi's team, they identified men, heterosexuals, Japanese people, and those engaged in mainstream research themes as the majority in the Japanese research environment. They shared the opinion that in order to create an environment where everyone can demonstrate their abilities, it is important for those who recognize the privileged structure to speak up and communicate it to others.

Finally, based on the presentations from each team, Fellow Isobe summarized the roundtable discussion by saying that while privilege structures vary widely depending on the community, issues surrounding "women" appear frequently, and promoting countermeasures for these issues leads to an understanding of all privilege structures. The key points for resolving them are: ① making the structures visible and sharing them, ② building alliances both inside and outside the community to avoid isolation and seek to improve the situation, and ③ having learning opportunities such as vicariously experiencing the position of a minority. As a result, this will increase the freedom of decision-making for researchers and also lead to self-help for individuals regarding their existing or potential minority status.

In his closing remarks, Akihiko Akamatsu, Unit Director (Kyoto University Next-Generation Research Creation Unit, L-INSIGHT Program Manager), summarized Roundtable Discussion II and shared an anecdote about his own experience as Executive Director and Vice President for Student Affairs at Kyoto University about 10 years ago, where he fulfilled his mission under the motto "Do not exercise power, love the students," speaking about the pride of those who hold power. He also mentioned that "making privileges visible" is an important theme for young researchers who will be active as leaders in the future, in order to "create a better creative research environment by respecting diversity," and concluded the conference.

Following the conclusion of Roundtable Discussion II, Fellow Isobe summarized the following statement based on the presentations from each team.
Eliminating "privilege structures" that create unconscious bias will broadly benefit individual researchers and the research environment by leading to proactive and free choices for all researchers involved and by providing self-rescue for minority issues that anyone may possess. To achieve this, the visibility and sharing of privilege structures are crucial, and learning and simulated experiences can help in this regard.

I hope that everyone will keep this statement in mind and take small steps to do what they can in their daily work and educational/research activities. With that, I would like to conclude the "Next Generation Leadership Researchers Roundtable Conference II."