Authors

S Absalon NO MATCH, ¹ ,

Discussion

Summer 2020 in the United States of America was marked by nationwide protests voicing the fight for racial equity and racial justice. The long-overdue awakening to systemic racism in American society triggered the self-assessment of funding agencies, scientific institutions, research groups, and scientists. As a result, we witnessed a significant rise in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (D.E.I.) statements, plans, and articles in the following months. In addition, 2020 introduced a wide range of grassroots-style, often trainee-organized groups, that arose without any formal structure or support to fill the much-needed gap in support of scientists from historically marginalized communities. For instance, virtual symposia and trending hashtags, including #BlackinMicrobiology, #BlackinImmunology, and our group #BlPOCinParasitology, were prominent. These organizations have stepped up to fill a very critical void within our field. Notably, groups historically excluded from academic research and administrative positions have often been initiated to support their communities (rather than ‘top-down, these initiatives are ‘ground up’ in nature). BIPOC in Parasitology (BiP) was conceived after the 2020 “Black in Microbiology Week,” and our community has grown to 122 members. We are a community of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color studying parasites. In partnership with our non-BIPOC colleagues in the field of parasitology, our goal is to provide a safe, professional, collaborative, and collegial space to engage with each other. Furthermore, BiP strives to promote the contributions of BIPOC parasitologists and cultivate an anti-racist, equitable, and inclusive environment within the broader parasitology community. Our signature event, “Parasite Hour with BiP,” is a monthly research seminar series that provides a space for BIPOC parasitologists to share their journeys in science, showcase their contribution to parasitology, and provide invaluable advice to future parasitologists. We are looking forward to providing more opportunities for professional development and community building in years to come.