Angela Saini: A Critical Lens on Science, Power, and Society

Angela Saini has established herself as a pivotal voice in contemporary science journalism, distinguished by her rigorous investigation into how social biases, historical power structures, and political agendas shape and sometimes distort the scientific enterprise. Her work moves beyond merely explaining discoveries to interrogating the very foundations of scientific inquiry, questioning who gets to ask the questions, which narratives are amplified, and how research can be misused to uphold inequality.

Saini’s authority is rooted in a unique interdisciplinary background. She holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Oxford, providing her with a fundamental understanding of scientific methodology and data analysis. This technical foundation, combined with her early career as a reporter for the BBC, where she honed the craft of public communication, allows her to dissect complex studies with credibility and translate them into compelling public narratives. This fusion of skills is essential for her mission: to audit science not for its factual errors, but for its historical and social context.

Her influential work focuses on three interconnected themes:

1. Deconstructing Gendered Science: In her award-winning book Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong, Saini conducts a forensic historical analysis of sexism in biology, psychology, and anthropology. She meticulously documents how, for centuries, research was compromised by the assumption of male superiority, from Victorian craniometry to flawed evolutionary psychology. More importantly, she highlights the modern scientists whose work is rebuilding our understanding of female biology and cognition, revealing difference rather than deficit.

2. Confronting the Resurgence of Race Science: Her seminal book, Superior: The Return of Race Science, is an urgent global investigation. Saini traces the poisonous lineage of racial classification from its colonial origins to its horrific use in Nazi eugenics and its modern, coded revival in certain academic and online circles. The book is a powerful warning against the cyclical misuse of genetic language to lend false legitimacy to racism, demonstrating how these dangerous ideas persist.

3. Advocating for a Self-Aware Scientific Culture: Underpinning all her work is a critique of science as a human institution. She reports on the movement to "decolonize" scientific curricula and practice, arguing for the inclusion of marginalized voices and knowledge systems. Her journalism promotes a more reflexive, ethical, and inclusive scientific enterprise that acknowledges its past to better serve humanity's future.

Saini's reporting style is characterized by deep historical research, narrative storytelling, and unwavering moral clarity. She often structures her investigations as journeys, placing herself at conferences, campuses, and labs to gather firsthand testimony. A prime example is her Guardian long-read, "The Other Side of Science," where she explores the decolonization movement in South African universities. She connects student protests to broader debates about knowledge, power, and heritage, grounding a philosophical concept in real-world struggle and scientific practice.

The significance of Saini's journalism is profound. In an era of misinformation, she provides an evidence-based antidote to resurgent biological determinism. Her work fosters critical science literacy, empowering readers to ask not just "what" was discovered, but "why" and "for whom." By holding science to its own highest standards of objectivity and fairness, she acts as a crucial guardian of its integrity, advocating for a practice dedicated to public good rather than the perpetuation of prejudice.

References

Saini, A. (2017). Inferior: How science got women wrong. Beacon Press.

Saini, A. (2019). Superior: The return of race science. Beacon Press.

Saini, A. (2019, March 12). The other side of science. The Guardian.

Saini, A. (2018). The past and future of gender in science [Video]. TED Conferences.

National Public Radio. (2019, May 24). 'Superior' explores the dark history of scientific racism [Radio interview]. In Fresh Air.

Submitted by:

Falade Iyiola Temidayo

Matriculation Number: 210601286