"The Diversity Bonus"

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Presented by Scott Page

Friday, April 21, 2017
2:00 p.m.
Arthur Zankel Music Center

Scott E. Page, Leonid Hurwicz Collegiate Professor of Complex Systems, Political Science, and Economics, University of Michigan. External Faculty, Santa Fe Institute.

Page's Presentation on 4/21: Diversity and inclusion initiatives often rest on normative justifications—the value of an integrated society, the desire for social justice, and the need for greater equity. A sole reliance on normative concerns implicitly positions efforts to create inclusive spaces in conflict with more pragmatic ends, like understanding the brain, exploring space, advancing knowledge, developing life-saving drugs, or constructing a successful health care policy. The Diversity Bonus logic puts forth what Wendell Berry calls a contrary assumption—that what is good for the world is also good for us. In brief, efforts to create a more inclusive, tolerant world do not run counter to outcome based concerns. Logic and evidence demonstrate that on complex tasks, diversity actually improves outcomes.  It does so by creating bonuses. One plus one can equal three. As a result, the best teams of scientists, researchers, and even song writers are diverse.

Learn more about Scott Page on his website.

Please see another presentation by Page entitled: "Why the Best People Don't Mean the Best Teams."