I felt my heart pound and my mind race when I first read the list. I received reports disclosing over 100 words flagged by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for search in reviewing active funding awards. Words triggering heightened scrutiny included “women,” “equality,” “historically,” “socioeconomic,” and “systemic.” Whether the circulated list was leaked by NSF officers as cited by The Washington Post or identified by principal investigators as words to avoid, its chilling effect is to inhibit and limit language, intellectual pursuits, scholarly inquiry, scientific collaboration, creative expression, and academic freedom.
Words are not inherently dangerous; policies seeking to stifle them are. Censorship and restrictions of language undermine the very foundation of scholarly excellence, artistic integrity, and scientific rigor. The ability to freely explore ideas, challenge prevailing norms, and engage in fearless inquiry is the lifeblood of creative innovation and the life force of Leonardo.
Leonardo stands in solidarity with scholars, artists, scientists, technologists, and people everywhere who rise above the specters of censorship, intimidation, and retribution threatening to dictate the boundaries of creativity.
Leonardo reaffirms its commitment to the open exchange of ideas and creative collaborations transcending borders and disciplines. The cross-cutting community of Leonardo’s network of networks holds a unique power to imagine new futures—futures rooted in truth, visions of equity, and the boundless potential of human ingenuity.
The best way to protect fundamental freedoms is to exercise them. This is a moment to speak the words others seek to silence, champion ideas despite efforts to suppress them, and dare to create futures that benefit all.
Here is the list I received in early February 2025: activism, activists, advocacy, advocate, advocates, antiracist, barrier, barriers, biased, biased toward, biases, biases towards, bipoc, black and latinx, community diversity, community equity, cultural differences, cultural heritage, culturally responsive, disabilities, disability, discriminated, discrimination, discriminatory, diverse backgrounds, diverse communities, diverse community, diverse group, diverse groups, diversified, diversify, diversifying, diversity and inclusion, diversity equity, enhance the diversity, enhancing diversity, equal opportunity, equality, equitable, equity, ethnicity, excluded, female, females, fostering inclusivity, gender, gender diversity, genders, hate speech, hispanic minority, historically, implicit bias, implicit biases, inclusion, inclusive, inclusiveness, inclusivity, increase diversity, increase the diversity, indigenous community, inequalities, inequality, inequitable, inequities, institutional, lgbt, marginalize, marginalized, minorities, minority, multicultural, polarization, political, prejudice, privileges, promoting diversity, race and ethnicity, racial, racial diversity, racial inequality, racial justice, racially, racism, sense of belonging, sexual preferences, social justice, socio cultural, socio economic, sociocultural, socioeconomic status, stereotypes, systemic, trauma, under appreciated, under represented, under served, underrepresentation, underrepresented, underserved, undervalued, victim, woman, and women.