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Study reveals how stereotypes undermine diversity efforts in the workplace

Although they were released well before the "Barbie" movie crushed it at the box office, recent findings by a group of University of Delaware researchers could have been used as fodder for a scene in the film. Kyle Emich, a professor of management at the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, along with former UD colleagues Rachel Amey and Chad Forbes, wanted to know why women’s knowledge often gets ignored in the workplace, and how to improve that situation. Drawing on both a problem-solving group exercise and measurements of brain activity, their findings, published by the journal Small Group Research, illustrate ways stereotypes and attitudes can stifle the benefits of diversity efforts. At the same time, the study also offers hope for solutions. Key takeaways: While women are often urged to fight for status, the onus should actually be placed on high-status men to respect and accept women’s expertise. - Teams in the group exercise made up of two men and one woman were less effective. Women often struggled to speak up when they were in the minority. Also, the more minority women on these teams shared key information, the less respect they got from their team. The findings, Emich and his team said, confirm the idea that a lack of respect for minorities undermines the benefit of diversity. They also argue that while the burden is often put on women to make sure they have a voice, men in power should also bear this responsibility. Emich, who studies group dynamics and performance in work settings and examines how emotions influence cognitive processing, is available for interviews. Click on his profile below to set one up.

Is AI Censoring Us?

Artificial intelligence has been hogging headlines around the world in recent months. In late March 2023, an unprecedented coalition of tech CEOs signed an open letter calling for a moratorium on AI training. The race to empower powerful artificial minds should be paused, argued signatories (including Elon Musk) to give humanity time to review and reassess the potential risks of developing “human-competitive intelligence”–intelligence that “no one–not even their creators–can understand, predict, or reliably control.” Concerns about the unchecked rise of AI are not new, and global media is increasingly sounding the alarm, citing concerns that range from invasion of privacy to an existential threat to human existence. Weighing in on this with compelling new evidence around the “unintended consequences” of AI is research by Goizueta’s Ramnath Chellappa and Information Systems PhD candidate, Jonathan Gomez Martinez. Uncovering the Threat Their paper, Content Moderation and AI: Impact on Minority Communities, takes a hard look at how the use of AI in social media could disadvantage LGBTQ+ users. And what they find is worrying. Chellappa, who is Goizueta Foundation Term Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, explains that he and Gomez Martinez homed in on Twitter to explore how unchecked artificial language moderation might (mistakenly) censor the use of “otherwise toxic” language by failing to understand the context or nuanced use of the LGBTQ+ lexicon. Examples of this include “reclaimed language”—verbiage that would be a slur in other contexts—but is reclaimed and prosocial if used by the originally targeted community. Their paper, Content Moderation and AI: Impact on Minority Communities, takes a hard look at how the use of AI in social media could disadvantage LGBTQ+ users. And what they find is worrying. Chellappa, who is Goizueta Foundation Term Professor of Information Systems & Operations Management, explains that he and Gomez Martinez homed in on Twitter to explore how unchecked artificial language moderation might (mistakenly) censor the use of “otherwise toxic” language by failing to understand the context or nuanced use of the LGBTQ+ lexicon. Examples of this include “reclaimed language”—verbiage that would be a slur in other contexts—but is reclaimed and prosocial if used by the originally targeted community. “This is a community that has ‘reclaimed’ certain words and expressions that might be considered offensive in other contexts. Terms like ‘queer’ are used within the community both in jest and as a marker of identity and belonging. But if used by those outside the community, this kind of language could be deemed inflammatory or offensive.” Gomez Martinez adds: “We wanted to measure the extent to which AI’s lack of a nuanced understanding of what is ‘acceptable’ affects minority users’ online interactions. As humans, we understand that marginalized communities have long used ‘reclaimed words’ both in jest and as a kind of rallying cry. Our intuition was that the machine simply wouldn’t understand this without context—context that is more immediately apparent to people.” Determining the Impact of AI-Based Moderation To test this, he and Chellappa looked at data from social media behemoth, Twitter. During the pandemic in 2020, the platform made a significant shift to AI-based content moderation to accommodate stay-at-home measures. Data from Twitter’s proprietary Academic Research API afforded Gomez Martinez and Chellappa access to a complete listing of historical tweets and replies before, during and after this period. Together they analyzed a total of 3.8 million interactions (1.8 million tweets and 2.0 million replies) from a panel of 2,751 users, of which 1,224 self-identified as LGBTQ+ in their Twitter bios. Their study ran over four months, from January to May 2020, before, during and after the switch to machine-based moderation. Using the same tools that Twitter moderators deploy to moderate interactions, Gomez Martinez and Chellappa were able to measure any increase or decrease in pro-social, in-group teasing and toxic language among LGBTQ+ users: terms such as “bitch” or “queer,” which research shows to be a form of ritualized insults—dubbed “reading” by the community—which can appear inappropriate or incoherent to outsiders, says Chellappa. “Analyzing the language, we find a notable reduction in the use of terms that could be considered toxic. When the AI moderation is in effect, you see these users’ language become more vanilla,” he adds. Quantifiably so, in fact. Chellappa and Martinez find a 27 percent reduction in the use of reclaimed language among LGBTQ+ users. And while that doesn’t sound like much, it’s significant for the community, says Gomez Martinez. Using in-language and reading each other is one way for this marginalized group to create a sense of community and social status. Not just that, we know from research that LGBTQ+ people use slurs and insults as a way of preparing themselves emotionally and psychologically for hostile interaction with heterosexual individuals. This kind of teasing and playing helps build resilience, so any reduction in it is significant.” Jonathan Gomez Martinez Good Intentions May Breed Unexpected Consequences So what does this mean for social media, for the LGBTQ+ community or any marginalized group for that matter, that might be prone to automated censorship? And how does any of this play out in the context of broader concerns around AI? For Chellappa and Gomez Martinez, there is a major hazard in granting technology any degree of control over how human beings interact. And it’s rooted in the mismatch between good intentions and unexpected consequences. Their paper, one of the first to dig into the impact of AI on actual business and society, lays bare some of the real-world impact AI has already had on marginalized people. While this study looks at the LGBTQ+ community, it could equally apply to any group that is prone to bias or exclusion—racial minorities or any other underrepresented demographic. “Wherever you have user-generated content, you are likely to find communities with their own, unique way of interacting. We looked at LGBTQ+ Twitter users, but you could also look at the African American community, for instance.” Ramnath K. Chellapa At a time when social media platforms have become almost newslike in their influence, this is a concern. On the one hand, censoring certain demographics might earn Twitter et al an unwanted reputation for being anti-LGBTQ+ or racist, he adds. But there are even bigger stakes here than bad publicity. “Twitter has long aspired to be a kind of global town square,” says Gomez Martinez. “But you end up pretty far from that scenario if only some voices are truly heard, or if you start reinforcing biases because you are using a time-saving technology that is not equipped yet to understand the complexity and nuance of human interaction.” AI isn’t there yet, say Chellappa and Gomez Martinez. And they caution against using AI indiscriminately to expedite or streamline processes that impact human communication and interchange. If we don’t keep track of it, their research shows that AI has the potential to start dictating and moving people into normative behavior—effectively homogenizing us. And that’s a problem. Looking to know more? Ramnath Chellappa is available to speak with media. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Home field advantage: Beneficial bacteria could protect turfgrass from damaging disease

Sports leagues from the pros on down use turfgrass because it's a hearty grass that can be mowed to exceedingly short heights and tolerates trampling foot traffic with ease.  But it does have a shortcoming: Turfgrass is vulnerable to a pathogen called dollar spot. UD researchers Harsh Bais and Erik Ervin and doctoral student Charanpreet Kaur are part of a team studying the beneficial properties of UD1022, a UD-patented beneficial bacteria, to see whether it can be effective in protecting turfgrass.  Left unchecked, dollar spot can result in huge economic losses for golf courses and other places where turfgrass must be managed and protected. Known as a growth promoter that can help plants flourish, the hope is that UD1022 can be a green alternative to complement existing turf-management processes already in use. Bais, a professor of plant and soil sciences, is available for interviews and can be contacted by clicking on his profile below this photo or via his ExpertFile profile.

Aston Business School announces strategic partnership with ISACA

It will help ABS graduates optimise their career potential with industry leading credentials in cyber security and risk management Aston University’s Cyber Security Innovation Centre has gained ISACA Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) status The partnership forms an Academic Centre of Excellence (ACoE) at Aston Business School. The Cyber Security Innovation (CSI) Centre at Aston University has announced a strategic partnership and the formation of an Academic Centre of Excellence with the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). It will provide an added value for ABS graduates through taking ISACA certifications to optimise their career potential. Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy, a senior lecturer in cyber security management at the CSI Centre at Aston Business School, said: “There is an acute shortage of skills in the cyber security sector and we are delighted to be leading the field of executive education of future professionals under the recognition of a Centre of Excellence.” The CSI Centre and ISACA UK Central Chapter have been working together for the past four years, with both parties being ISACA ATOs (Accredited Training Organisations) in their own right, delivering high quality virtual and face-to-face instructor-led training which is helping delegates to achieve exam success and benefit from network membership of over 170,000 cyber professionals world wide. ISACA UK Central celebrated its 30 year anniversary in 2023. Their instructors are working consultants, with a wealth of experience as chief information security officers (CISOs), risk managers and IT audit directors, bringing the topic to life using real examples and practical knowledge. Professor Zoe Radnor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, said: “Taking our executive education in the cyber security direction is a strategic priority as Aston University has positioned itself as leader in digital technologies. The CSI Centre of Excellence underscores this priority.” Professor Helen Higson, deputy dean of Aston Business School, said: “The CSI Centre academics are always forward looking at the new demands in education and have created a dynamic set of postgraduate offering highly relevant in the market.” Professor Aleks Subic, Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Aston University, said: “In line with our 2030 strategy focused on establishing Aston University as a leader in digital innovation, the Centre of Excellence represents an important step towards making Aston University a sector leader in cyber security.”

CorpusCast with Dr Robbie Love: Dr Miloš Jakubíček on Sketch Engine

The latest episode of the Aston Originals podcast, CorpusCast with Dr Robbie Love, offers listeners a peek into the remarkable evolution of Sketch Engine, the ground-breaking corpus query and management system developed by Lexical Computing. In this episode, Dr Miloš Jakubíček, the CEO of Lexical Computing, takes centre stage to narrate the fascinating journey of Sketch Engine. As an accomplished NLP researcher and software engineer, Dr Jakubíček’s profound expertise in the intersection of corpus linguistics, computational linguistics and lexicography promises to unravel the story behind one of the most widely used and celebrated corpus platforms in existence. For over 20 years, Sketch Engine has been a cornerstone of research in various domains, including lexicography, language learning and, naturally, corpus linguistics. This episode delves into the origins of Sketch Engine, tracing its growth from its inception to its current status as a trusted companion of linguists, researchers and language enthusiasts worldwide. Listeners will get an insider's perspective on the monumental impact of Sketch Engine in processing vast text corpora and deciphering morphologically rich languages. Dr Jakubíček sheds light on the tool's pivotal role in advancing research in these areas, reflecting on its dynamic journey from conception to its position as a game-changing resource for language professionals. Meanwhile Dr Love is thrilled to present this engaging episode, which coincides with the announcement made at the recent Corpus Linguistics Conference. With excitement resonating in his voice, Dr Love shared that Aston University, alongside Birmingham City University and the University of Birmingham, will co-host the upcoming Corpus Linguistics Conference in 2025. This exciting news, revealed during the conference in Lancaster, promises to gather linguists, researchers and enthusiasts in Birmingham for an event that is expected to be a milestone in the world of linguistic exploration. Don't miss out on this riveting episode, where the past, present and future of corpus linguistics converge through the lens of Sketch Engine. Tune in for an enlightening conversation with Dr Miloš Jakubíček, available here and on all major podcast platforms. Dr Robbie Love ? https://bit.ly/3Zcgo36 Dr Miloš Jakubíček ? https://bit.ly/3DHBgWF Aston Centre for Applied Linguistics ? https://bit.ly/3QKHcSF School of Social Sciences and Humanities ? https://bit.ly/3JCRAd1 Find out more about courses related to this show ? https://bit.ly/3pR705k #linguistics #corpuslinguistics #astonuniversity

Electric vehicles are hitting the streets, but there are potholes to avoid

No doubt about it, electric vehicles are coming and coming fast. Production of EVs has ramped up in the last couple of years but there are many issues that need to be addressed before they become the everyday choice for consumers. Richard Franza, PhD, professor of management at the Hull College of Business at Augusta University said the timing of EVs is contingent on a few things. “It’s not a question of if they’re coming, but how fast will they be here,” said Franza. “One is the speed at which there is infrastructure built for them. There are still not a lot of places to charge a car. We need more charging stations. Eventually, EVs will be predominant.” Franza added a second hurdle is how fast the federal government moves on emissions requirements that will cause consumers to phase out fossil fuel vehicles. Georgia has become one of the leaders in luring EV manufacturers to call the state home. Not just that, but the state is also drawing in companies that supply batteries and other components. “Any time you build a manufacturing or assembly facility, you automatically get the suppliers around them. Even before Georgia got the vehicle manufacturers, we already had a battery manufacturer, so Georgia already has a good network for the automobile industry,” said Franza. Amazon has already made a major investment in EVs and Franza expects other companies like FedEx and UPS, companies that have a fleet of vehicles, to make the switch to EVs as well, since they have more ability to set up charging networks. The biggest question remains: how long it will take before EVs become more prevalent on the streets? Franza said the answer could depend on who you listen to, but other factors come into play. “Right now, electric vehicles account for less than 1% of the vehicles on the road. So I see two leading indicators – the number of gas stations vs. the number of charging stations, and the production of combustion engines vs. electric vehicles. Look for when the ratios of those really start to change, but it’s not black and white. There are several factors that will go into that and it could take longer than people are saying,” Franza said. Covering EVs and the auto industry? Then let us help. Richard Franza, PhD, is available to speak with media about trending issues like inflation, small business and the economy – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Richard G. Cuming Appointed Chief Operating Officer of ChristianaCare

(WILMINGTON, Del. – June 26, 2023) Richard G. Cuming, Ed.D., MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, has been named ChristianaCare’s chief operating officer (COO). Cuming has been serving as interim COO since the beginning of this calendar year. He joined ChristianaCare in 2016 as the system’s first Chief Nurse Executive. In his role as COO, Cuming oversees the delivery of efficient and fiscally responsible system operations. He also works with other leaders to ensure high-quality and safe patient care. “Ric has been an invaluable asset to ChristianaCare over the past seven years, especially in navigating the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, ChristianaCare president and chief executive officer. “As leader of our extraordinary, Magnet®-designated nursing staff and president of ChristianaCare HomeHealth, he has improved the lives of patients and caregivers alike. I look forward to him flourishing in this new role.” Prior to coming to ChristianaCare, Cuming oversaw the operations and strategic direction of nursing services, perioperative and emergency services at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Einstein Medical Center Elkins Park, MossRehab, Einstein Center One and Willowcrest, a skilled nursing center. Ric also previously worked at Jackson Health System in Miami as senior vice president and chief nursing executive, and he served as senior vice president and chief administrative officer at Jackson South Community Hospital. Cuming serves on the board of directors of the DAISY Foundation and board of trustees of the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses Foundation. He was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing and is an alumnus of both the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellowship Program and the Wharton School of Business General Management Program. Cuming earned his diploma of collegial studies in nursing at John Abbott College in Montreal, his Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Ottawa, his Master of Science in nursing at the University of Miami and his doctorate in adult education and human resource development with a minor in advanced nursing administration from Florida International University.

ChristianaCare Rated as One of the United States’ Best Hospitals by Newsweek for Fifth Consecutive Year

ChristianaCare ranked as 81st best hospital in the United States and the only health system in Delaware to make the list For the fifth consecutive year, ChristianaCare has earned a spot in Newsweek’s exclusive list of the World’s Best Hospitals – United States, recognized for consistently being at the forefront in care, research and innovation. “Receiving this honor year after year is a testament to the work ChristianaCare caregivers do each day to create health together so that every person can flourish,” said ChristianaCare President & CEO Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH. “At its core our mission is a simple, yet profound, one. We take care of people. And I am so proud of everyone in this organization for what five-straight years of being called one of the World’s Best Hospitals says about the exceptional quality of the care we provide.” Headquartered in Wilmington, Del., ChristianaCare ranked 81st in the United States in the annual list that ranks 2,300 hospitals in 28 countries. “ChristianaCare has gained a global reputation thanks to our unwavering focus to provide expert, high-quality care,” said Kert Anzilotti, M.D., MBA, chief medical officer at ChristianaCare. “This award belongs to all our caregivers, who continuously seek new knowledge, are true to their word and are committed to delivering exceptional care to every patient we serve.” Compiled by Newsweek and the global data firm Statista, the lists are based on the following data sources: Recommendations from tens of thousands of doctors, health care professionals and managers across the world. The survey asked participants to recommend hospitals in their own country as well as in other countries. The survey did not permit recommendations of the health professional’s own hospital. Patient surveys originating from publicly available data that included areas such as their general satisfaction with the hospital and their satisfaction with their medical care. Hospital quality metrics such as data on the quality of care for specific treatments, data on hygiene measures and patient safety, and data on clinician-patient ratios. The Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROM) surveys, which are standardized, validated questionnaires completed by patients to measure their well-being and quality of life. The recognition by Newsweek echoes other quality recognitions that ChristianaCare has received during the past 12 months: For the third consecutive year, Healthgrades named ChristianaCare one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for 2023. Healthgrades also ranked ChristianaCare as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for five service lines: cardiac care, coronary intervention, joint replacement, spine surgery and gastrointestinal surgery. For the seventh consecutive year, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives named ChristianaCare a Most Wired Health Care Technology Leader. U.S. News & World Report rated ChristianaCare as the No. 42 hospital in the nation for obstetrics and gynecology and a High Performing Hospital for Maternity. U.S. News & World Report also rated ChristianaCare as high-performing in orthopedics. For the second consecutive year, Forbes ranked ChristianaCare as one of the Best Employers for Diversity and Inclusion in the United States. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation gave ChristianaCare’s Christiana Hospital and Wilmington Hospital the top score in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s most recent Healthcare Equality Index.

Georgia Southern University announces Michael Huggins, Ph.D., as new dean of the College of Science and Mathematics

Michael Huggins, Ph.D., will join Georgia Southern University on August 1 as the Dean of the College of Science and Mathematics. “I am excited to welcome Dr. Huggins to our academic leadership,” said Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “Dr. Huggins has a distinguished career filled with research, service and mentorship. He will be a valuable partner as we move forward with our leadership goals. He brings with him the working knowledge of how to lead a College, along with the foundations needed to advance our research mission.” Huggins comes to Georgia Southern from Tarleton State University, where he has served as a dean since 2020. He led three academic departments with nine undergraduate degree programs and three master’s degree programs. While serving as dean at Tarleton State, Huggins established a $15 million College of Science and Mathematics (COSM) fundraising initiative. He also led efforts to improve COSM First-Time-In-College (FTIC) retention rates resulting in an improvement from 67.3% COSM FTIC retention for the Fall 2019 cohort to 71.7% retention rate for the Fall 2021 COSM FTIC cohort; a 6.5% improvement in just two years. “I am excited to join the Georgia Southern team,” Huggins said. “I look forward to working with the faculty and staff to develop initiatives that support the growth of the College of Science and Mathematics and to ensure the success for all students during their time at the University and beyond.” Huggins holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of West Florida, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Nevada, Reno and completed his postdoctoral at University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate from the Harvard University Institute for Management and Leadership in Education. To connect with Michael Huggins or to learn more about Georgia Southern University — simply reach out to Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.

ChristianaCare Earns IABC Gold Quill Award for Innovation in Media Relations

ExpertFile-powered “Our Experts” site wins top international industry award for program that helps journalists reach health experts – fast ChristianaCare, with its collaborative partner ExpertFile, has been recognized with a 2023 Gold Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) for its “Our Experts” media database. Designed to easily and quickly connect journalists to subject-matter experts, this online resource has been recognized with the top prize — “Award of Excellence” in the Communications Management, Media Relations category. “Good communication is foundational to our mission of serving as expert, caring partners in the health of our neighbors,” said Karen Browne, vice president of marketing and communications at ChristianaCare. “Through the development of our online database as a resource for journalists, we are making our experts more accessible to provide timely, accurate health information to the diverse communities we serve.” The IABC Gold Quill Awards showcase business communication excellence and are among the most prestigious awards programs in the communications industry. Each entry is scored independently by evaluators who judge the award submission on criteria that include stakeholder analysis, strategic and tactical planning, quality of execution and measurable results. “It’s impressive to see how ChristianaCare has reimagined how it can more proactively serve the community by being more approachable to journalists,” said Peter Evans, co-founder and CEO of ExpertFile. “We’re excited to share this prestigious industry award with them.” ChristianaCare’s innovation was driven out of a desire to improve the reach, impact and efficiency of its media relations efforts — amid rapidly increasing demand — without the need to add more resources. In just two years, ChristianaCare’s “Our Experts” media database has received more than 20,000 online visits and helped to generate more than 200 news stories. The IABC Gold Quill Awards showcase business communication excellence and are among the most prestigious awards programs in the communications industry. Each entry is scored independently by evaluators who judge the award submission on criteria that include stakeholder analysis, strategic and tactical planning, quality of execution and measurable results. “It’s impressive to see how ChristianaCare has reimagined how it can more proactively serve the community by being more approachable to journalists,” said Peter Evans, co-founder and CEO of ExpertFile. “We’re excited to share this prestigious industry award with them.” ChristianaCare’s innovation was driven out of a desire to improve the reach, impact and efficiency of its media relations efforts — amid rapidly increasing demand — without the need to add more resources. In just two years, ChristianaCare’s “Our Experts” media database has received more than 20,000 online visits and helped to generate more than 200 news stories. Powered by the ExpertFile software platform, the ChristianaCare “Our Experts” site provides a digital media toolkit with advanced search and digital content features to help journalists discover experts and access resources that make it easier for them to complete stories and meet their deadlines. Nearly 140 ChristianaCare experts are featured in the database today, and that figure continues to grow. On the heels of the success of “Our Experts,” ChristianaCare is planning to launch later this year a new Speakers Bureau that will leverage the ExpertFile technology to strengthen and support local community engagement. “As a nonprofit health care organization, ChristianaCare makes it a priority to ensure we’re using our resources wisely and effectively,” said Shane Hoffman, communications director. “By using technology to streamline processes and make it easier to connect our experts to the media and community organizations who need their expertise, we’re working smarter — not harder — in service of our mission.”