Muslim and Protestant Scientists Targeted.

• Position: RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION

Muslims and Protestants are more likely than other U.S. scientists to experience religious discrimination, maintains a study from West Virginia University, Morgantown, and Rice University, Houston, Texas. The research also suggests that, for some scientists--especially biologists--religious identity may fuel perceptions of discrimination.

Authors Christopher Scheitle, assistant professor of sociology at WVU, and Elaine Ecklund, chair in Social Sciences and director of the Religion and Public Life Program at Rice, found that 15% of scientists report experiencing religious discrimination in their work.

The researchers also found that Muslims are the most likely to experience religious discrimination, with 63.6% of those surveyed reporting at least a perception of discrimination on the job. Protestant scientists report the second-highest percentage of perceived religious discrimination at 40.4%.

Although the researchers could not find an explanation for the perception of religious discrimination among biologists, they think it may have...