Cailin O’Connor, logic & philosophy of science assistant professor, received funding from the National Science Foundation to study how diversity impacts knowledge creation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and why these academic disciplines remain largely dominated by white males.

“It’s an important topic,” O’Connor says. “Because these issues can be hard to fully investigate empirically, I use mathematical models to try and understand impacts and causes of underrepresentation in science.”

Using evolutionary game theory, O’Connor will work to understand the effects of improved diversity on knowledge creation and how improved access to the workforce for women and minorities could impact society.

O’Connor received $306,000 to fund this work which began in August and will run through July 2018.