Strategic Empathy for Systemic Change in STEM

Strategic Empathy for Systemic Change in STEMis a practical, research-driven guide to transforming how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields support inclusion, equity, and leadership. Moving beyond surface-level diversity efforts, this book introduces strategic empathy as a powerful framework for reshaping policies, practices, and power structures across technical workplaces.Dr Shara Cohen explores how empathy can be embedded into feedback systems, leadership models, hiring practices, and innovation pipelines. Each chapter provides actionable insights designed to help professionals at every level—from early-career researchers to organisational leaders—identify exclusionary dynamics and implement lasting, systemic change.Whether you are a scientist, engineer, educator, team lead, or ally, this book equips you to listen more deeply, design more inclusively, and lead more ethically.Key topics includeBreaking the myth of meritocracy in STEMDesigning bias-aware systems and toolsEmbedding psychological safety into technical teamsApplying intersectionality to policy and leadershipPractising authentic allyship without centring yourselfTransforming personal insight into institutional redesignIncludes guided reflection exercises, a practical empathy toolkit, and links to global support networks.Read more