Perceived and observed biases within scientific communities: a case study in movement ecology

Shaw, Allison K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7969-8365; Fouda, Leila ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0723-3697; Mezzini, Stefano ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8551-7436; Kim, Dongmin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1508-1590; Chatterjee, Nilanjan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7932-0191; Wolfson, David ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1098-9206; Abrahms, Briana ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1987-5045; Attias, Nina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9472-6763; Beardsworth, Christine E. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1308-1455; Beltran, Roxanne S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8520-1105; Binning, Sandra A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2804-9979; Blincow, Kayla M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3944-5317; Chan, Ying-Chi ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7183-4411; Fronhofer, Emanuel A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2219-784X; Hegemann, Arne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3309-9866; Hurme, Edward R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2936-2449; Iannarilli, Fabiola ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7018-3557; Kellner, Julie B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7134-2767; McCoy, Karen D. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8972-3808; Rafiq, Kasim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1551-711X; Saastamoinen, Marjo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7009-2527; Sequeira, Ana M. M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6906-799X; Serota, Mitchell W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8885-5577; Sumasgutner, Petra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7042-3461; Tao, Yun ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5973-9422; Torstenson, Martha ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4028-5130; Yanco, Scott W. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4717-9370; Beck, Kristina B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5027-0207; Bertram, Michael G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5320-8444; Beumer, Larissa T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5255-1889; Bradarić, Maja ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2987-4855; Clermont, Jeanne ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8028-372X; Ellis-Soto, Diego ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4766-021X; Faltusová, Monika ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1847-2877; Fieberg, John ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3180-7021; Hall, Richard J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6102-4183; Kölzsch, Andrea ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0193-1563; Lai, Sandra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0128-3738; Lee-Cruz, Larisa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3753-9419; Loretto, Matthias-Claudio ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1940-3470; Loveridge, Alexandra ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2651-4870; Michelangeli, Marcus ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0053-6759; Müller, Thomas ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9305-7716; Riotte-Lambert, Louise ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6715-9898; Sapir, Nir ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2477-0515; Scacco, Martina ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4821-4051; Teitelbaum, Claire S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5646-3184; Cagnacci, Francesca ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4954-9980. 2025 Perceived and observed biases within scientific communities: a case study in movement ecology. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 292 (2051). 10.1098/rspb.2025.0679

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Abstract/Summary

Who conducts biological research, where they do it and how results are disseminated vary among geographies and identities. Identifying and documenting these forms of bias by research communities is a critical step towards addressing them. We documented perceived and observed biases in movement ecology, a rapidly expanding sub-discipline of biology, which is strongly underpinned by fieldwork and technology use. We surveyed attendees before an international conference to assess a baseline within-discipline perceived bias (uninformed perceived bias). We analysed geographic patterns in Movement Ecology articles, finding discrepancies between the country of the authors’ affiliation and study site location, related to national economics. We analysed race-gender identities of USA biology researchers (the closest to our sub-discipline with data available), finding that they differed from national demographics. Finally, we discussed the quantitatively observed bias at the conference, to assess within-discipline perceived bias informed with observational data (informed perceived bias). Although the survey indicated most conference participants as bias-aware, conversations only covered a subset of biases. We discuss potential causes of bias (parachute-science, fieldwork accessibility), solutions and the need to evaluate mitigatory action effectiveness. Undertaking data-driven analysis of bias within sub-disciplines can help identify specific barriers and move towards the inclusion of a greater diversity of participants in the scientific process.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1098/rspb.2025.0679
ISSN:	1471-2954
Additional Keywords:	academic conference, diversity, equity, journal authorship, parachute science, representation
Date made live:	20 Aug 2025 12:47 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/540096

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