When You’re the Only One: Navigating Science as an Outsider

Science is often described as objective, rational, and fair. It is a field built on evidence, logic, and the pursuit of truth. Many people enter scientific careers believing that these principles extend beyond the work itself, shaping the environments in which that work takes place.

But for many scientists, there is an additional layer to navigate. Alongside the intellectual demands of the role, there can also be the quieter, less visible experience of being the only one.

• The only woman in the room.

• The only person of colour in a team.

• The only person without a family history in higher education.

• The only person who does not see themselves reflected in those around them.

This experience is often subtle. It is not always defined by overt exclusion. Instead, it is characterised by a persistent awareness of difference, and the sense that belonging is something that must be earned, rather than assumed.

The additional labour of being under-represented is often invisible

When you are part of an under-represented group, there can be an unspoken pressure to prove yourself in ways that others may not have to.

This may show up as feeling that you need to be exceptionally well prepared before speaking. It may show up as hesitating to ask questions, for fear of reinforcing stereotypes about competence. It may show up as monitoring how you present yourself, how you communicate, and how your contributions are perceived.

Over time, this creates an additional layer of cognitive and emotional labour.

You are not only doing your job. You are also managing how your presence is interpreted within the environment.

This labour is rarely acknowledged, but it has a real impact on how sustainable a role feels.

Belonging affects more than confidence. It affects sustainability.

When people feel that they belong, they are able to focus their energy more fully on their work. They are able to think more freely, contribute more openly, and recover more effectively from challenges.

When belonging feels uncertain, some of that energy is redirected toward self-monitoring and self-protection.

This does not mean that people are less capable. In fact, many become exceptionally capable, precisely because they have learned to navigate complexity from an early stage.

But it does mean that the work can feel heavier. Not because of the science itself, but because of the environment in which it is being done.

Over time, this can influence career decisions in ways that are not always visible from the outside. Some people leave certain environments, sectors, or roles, not because they lack ability or ambition, but because they are seeking spaces where they can exist more fully as themselves.

This is not a failure of resilience. It is a recognition of what sustainability requires.

Being an outsider can shape how you move through your career

For those who have experienced being under-represented, career progression is rarely just about technical competence. It is also about navigating systems, expectations, and perceptions that were not designed with you in mind.

This can create both challenges and strengths.

Many people develop a heightened awareness of interpersonal dynamics. They learn to observe carefully, adapt thoughtfully, and build resilience in the face of uncertainty. These skills often become powerful assets over time.

But they are learned through experience, and they come at a cost.

It is important to acknowledge both sides of this reality, without diminishing either.

My own career has been shaped by these experiences

As a woman of colour from a socially disadvantaged, immigrant background, I have often found myself in environments where I was different from those around me.

I have experienced moments of uncertainty, where I questioned whether I truly belonged. I have also experienced moments of clarity, where I recognised that my perspective was not a limitation, but a strength.

Over time, I learned that sustainability was not just about working harder. It was about finding ways of working, and environments, that allowed me to remain grounded in who I am.

It was about recognising that belonging is not something you have to earn by erasing parts of yourself.

It is something that grows when you are able to work in alignment with your values, your identity, and your wellbeing.

You do not have to change who you are to build a sustainable career

For anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in science, it is important to know that this experience is not a reflection of your worth or your potential.

It is a reflection of the environments you have been navigating.

Your perspective, your background, and your experiences are not obstacles to overcome. They are part of what allows you to contribute meaningfully to your field.

Building a sustainable career is not about forcing yourself to fit into spaces that diminish you. It is about finding, and creating, ways of working where you can contribute fully, without carrying the additional burden of proving that you belong.

Final thoughts

Science needs a diversity of perspectives, not only for reasons of fairness, but because diversity strengthens the quality of thinking, innovation, and discovery.

But more importantly, you deserve to build a career that does not require you to sacrifice your sense of self in order to succeed.

Belonging is not a luxury. It is a foundation for sustainability. And when that foundation is present, both people and science are able to thrive.