Are unconscious biases hardwired as an evolutionary response or do they emerge from assimilating information around us? We all have unconscious, or unintentional, biases, whether based in race, gender, age, or other designations, but is there anything we can do to eliminate them? How do they influence our world and society? How have these unintentional prejudices affected modern-day technology (specifically AI)?

In Sway: Unraveling Unconscious Bias, author Pragya Agarwal uncovers the science behind our biases. Using real-world stories underpinned by scientific theories and research, this book unravels the way our unconscious biases affect how we communicate, make decisions, and perceive the world. At a time when race politics, the gender pay gap, diversity, inclusivity, and bias training in the workplace dominate our conversations, understanding how unconscious bias functions is more important than ever.

This program is made possible by Science Sandbox, an initiative of the Simons Foundation.

FEATURING- 

Pragya Agarwal is a behavioral and data scientist, author, speaker, and consultant. She is a Visiting Professor for Inequities and Social Inclusion, and founder and director of the think tank the 50 Percent Foundation. Her books include Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias (2020); Wish We Knew What to Say: Talking with Children about Race (2020); and (M)otherhood: On the Choices of Being a Woman (2021). She lives in the UK.