DEI

Scientific theories of natural selection emphasize diversity as a valuable asset, necessary for the survival of a species. Ironically, however, science as a discipline has historically undervalued diversity, and this manifests in every facet of the academy: the students who are in the classroom and those who succeed in it, the trainees in our labs, the scholars we cite, the community members we contact in our outreach efforts, the populations we research. At its core, the scientific process is one of challenging old ideas and rigorously testing new ones — a process that is catalyzed when we let all voices be heard. As scientists, we must constantly advocate for improved diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in every aspect of our scholarship, teaching and mentoring. To this end, I commit:

• To always critically evaluate whose perspectives are being represented and to conduct targeted outreach to promote DEI. I have worked to achieve this by reading and promoting work by minority scholars, both in the classroom and in my research, and by ensuring that all students in my classroom have the opportunity to participate. I regularly engage in efforts to foster interest in science, such as classroom presentations for elementary school students, high school students and college-level audiences. I have also participated in formal efforts to recruit and retain minority students in graduate school, such as through oSTEM (an organization aimed at supporting LGBT+ professionals in STEM) and the MAGIC program (an initiative to mentor underrepresented and first-generation students in the academy).
  
• To ensure that my research contributes to societal good. It is important to remember that my research is funded largely by taxpayer dollars and must serve the public good. This may occur through the creation of foundational scientific knowledge or through work that directly targets quality-of-life improvements for clinical populations. In conducting such research, however, I must not disproportionately focus on a sample of convenience (e.g., a Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic [WEIRD] population).
  
• To welcome the full identity of my students and colleagues. This requires treating others with respect, calling out discriminatory comments and behavior, and educating myself about other perspectives. It means recognizing that my students and colleagues are not ambassadors of their communities, that the onus is on me to learn and not on them to teach. I believe that to create an inclusive community where others feel comfortable being themselves, I must lead by example — this starts with small steps, like introducing myself with my pronouns (he/him) and ensuring my peers know how to pronounce my name.

• To acknowledging my privilege and using it to promote equity. There are myriad ways in which my identity (e.g., as a neurotypical cisgender man) affords me certain privileges. There are myriad ways in which my identity (e.g., as a person of color and member of the LGBT+ community) denies me certain privileges. I work to use my privilege to advocate for others, recognizing that sometimes my voice will be heard simply because of who I am. My approach is not to speak over others but either to hand them the microphone or use my voice to amplify theirs.
  
• To minimize gatekeeping. As an educator, my job is to recognize that different students have different backgrounds and opportunities. I pledge to work to provide my students and colleagues with access to the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need. To this end, it is important to provide students with clear, targeted goals and metrics for success, evaluating them relative to themselves and not against their peers.
  
• To continually educate myself and to acknowledge when I make a mistake, as I inevitably will. To err is human; to perseverate in erring is both insulting and irresponsible. While we have made tremendous progress as a field, we have a long way to go to ensure that our field is as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as it should be; I commit to working as hard as I can to promote progress in this regard.