The Value of Diversity in the Space Industry
Our society has systematically oppressed and excluded from positions of power and prestige people of color and minorities. The space industry is no exception.
I shouldn’t have to make the case that people of color and minorities deserve as much as anyone else to be leading America’s next ventures into space. Of course, they do.
But beyond justice and equity, diversity in the space industry has tangible business benefits that can help us achieve our space goals more effectively.
In the business of space exploration, innovation is paramount to success. Organizations that can design vehicles that can travel faster and farther at lower costs succeed. Those who can’t, don’t. Designing space vehicles that achieve these goals requires creativity at the highest levels of thought. Organizations can intentionally foster this creativity by promoting diversity of experience and identity in their workforce.
According to the Hamilton Project, cities with higher levels of highly-skilled immigration experienced higher levels of innovation (http://www.hamiltonproject.org/charts/high_skilled_immigration_increases_innovation). When individuals from different backgrounds came together, it boosted the idea economy and increased innovation, leading to real economic benefits for everyone.
Diversity is crucial in leadership positions, too. According to the Boston Consulting Group, companies with diversity in leadership positions “reported innovation revenue that was 19 percentage points higher than that of companies with below-average leadership diversity—45% of total revenue versus just 26%” (https://www.bcg.com/en-us/publications/2018/how-diverse-leadership-teams-boost-innovation.aspx). Diversity in leadership makes companies more innovative and more successful.
Embracing diversity will help us achieve our space goals more quickly and at lower costs. The space industry should take note. Diversity in the workforce, beyond being right for social justice, makes good business sense. This is all the more reason to aggressively pursue diversity in the space industry to reflect that of our nation.
Brian Britt is a junior in the School of Foreign Service studying Science and Technology in International Affairs. He is a co-founder of the Georgetown University Space Initiative.