More Inclusive Q&A Sessions Will Lead to Better Science

Traditional question and answer (Q&A) sessions are a sub-optimal use of conference time because they do not engage the full audience. Since 2017, several studies in a range of academic disciplines have identified that women are under-represented among question-askers after scientific talks. Insufficiently inclusive Q&As leave thought-provoking questions un-asked, meaning our communities miss out on ideas worth hearing. Throughout my PhD and into my postdoc, I have collected data on question asking behavior at the conference talks I attended (ceramics, materials, and solid-state chemistry, broadly speaking), revealing that this disparity is present in our community too. Fortunately, prior research shows that merely discussing this trend can help balance Q&A sessions. In this presentation, I will summarize existing research on gender equity in Q&A sessions, present my own data relevant to the MRS community, and describe preliminary results from possible alternative Q&A formats. This work will spark conversations around how to structure our scientific talks to better foster learning and collaboration, boosting our ability to conduct cutting edge science.