Different Minds: Harnessing the Latent Superpower Behind eResearch
Alfred Uhlherr1, Tamsin Jowett1 1Aspergers Victoria Victoria, Australia
Abstract
Recent focus on strengthening workforce diversity and inclusion (D&I) policies can be expected to lead to significant productivity and social benefits. Nonetheless, awareness of the full prevalence and significance of neurodiversity remains limited in many work environments. While individuals with neurological conditions such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder etc can reach their full potential in supportive environments, it is the neurodivergent individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) that are generally most common, most under-identified, most misunderstood, and most associated with specialised creative, technical and innovative capabilities that can exceed those of their “neurotypical” colleagues.
In this work we briefly outline some common neurodivergent attributes and their implications, across different fields and roles in the academic, research, innovation, information and technology sectors. From this one may deduce that the explicitly interdisciplinary and intersectional field of eResearch would be expected to attract an especially high concentration of neurodivergent professionals.
Our region’s eResearch communities provide a largely positive environment for their neurodivergent members, where their inclusion is in many ways taken for granted and thus rarely addressed explicitly. Indeed the prevalence of ASC in such communities would almost certainly be underestimated, not least because of the many reasons why individuals with ASC may tend not to disclose, reflect on, or even be aware of, this aspect of their identity.
We then describe how an algorithmic (“neurodivergent”) approach to management decisions, that utilises inherently universal, objective, cross-cultural, non-anthropocentric mathematical principles and language, appears especially suitable for implementing optimal workplace diversity policies.
Biography
Alf Uhlherr has previously worked at CSIRO as Principal Research Scientist and Executive Manager for Scientific Computing Services, including leadership and governance responsibilities with NCI, Pawsey, MASSIVE, NCMAS, AeRO and eResearch Australasia. He is a volunteer, contributor and coach for Aspergers Victoria.
Tamsin Jowett is the President of Aspergers Victoria Inc. Her degrees and main professional experience are in Law-Commerce and Marketing. She is a qualified Patient Advocate, an ICF Coach, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, and the 2020 recipient of the MHFA Award for Australian Mental Health Volunteer of the Year.