Diversity Equity and Inclusion Statement
Each of us have a responsibility to regularly self evaluate our personal implicit biases. These biases along with explicit racism have produced ongoing structural racism to exist within our University and professional environments. To effectively combat these forces we
must humble ourselves to listen and learn from the voices whose experiences are different than our own. In the following sections, we present our motivation, our practices and our commitment to action. We strive to uphold a lab environment that respects and affirms all aspects of diversity including but not limited to background, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, geography disability, socioeconomic status, level of expertise, thinking style and skill set.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
For those of us in the Iowa State community our offices, classrooms, labs, and field sites sit atop the ancestral and unceded lands of the Ioway people. Iowa State University existence is a product of the 1862 Morrill Act, which turned land expropriated from tribal nations into seed money for higher education. It is incumbent upon us to reflect upon our historical relationship to this place and the people who have called it home.
Motivations
Practices
Commitment to Action
We will work with students to develop an actionable plan to uphold these ethical principles within our lab and extend them to the university and broader scientific communities. Discriminatory conduct or improper conduct within the lab will not be tolerated and should be reported to Dr. Michael Moore. Repeated violations will be referred to appropriate University officials.
Parts of this code of ethics were adapted from those developed by others including the Tucker Lab Group
Each of us have a responsibility to regularly self evaluate our personal implicit biases. These biases along with explicit racism have produced ongoing structural racism to exist within our University and professional environments. To effectively combat these forces we
must humble ourselves to listen and learn from the voices whose experiences are different than our own. In the following sections, we present our motivation, our practices and our commitment to action. We strive to uphold a lab environment that respects and affirms all aspects of diversity including but not limited to background, age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, geography disability, socioeconomic status, level of expertise, thinking style and skill set.
Indigenous Land Acknowledgement
For those of us in the Iowa State community our offices, classrooms, labs, and field sites sit atop the ancestral and unceded lands of the Ioway people. Iowa State University existence is a product of the 1862 Morrill Act, which turned land expropriated from tribal nations into seed money for higher education. It is incumbent upon us to reflect upon our historical relationship to this place and the people who have called it home.
Motivations
- These biases have been implicit and explicitly used to marginalize certain groups of people in our field by individuals, institutions, and professional societies. For example, see: Transformative Action for DEI.
- The lack of diversity in our profession is in some ways an extension of the lack of equal access to outdoor recreation for all in the United States.
- Diverse perspectives drive excellence and innovation and are needed to effectively confront complex problems facing our environment.
Practices
- We assemble a diverse community by conducting recruiting outreach to diverse candidate pools.
- We affirm each lab member's personal identity and will defend their right to express their true selves in all aspects of life.
- We speak out when we see acts of injustice or discrimination occurring around us.
- We identify and work to overcome systemic and economic barriers to participation in natural resource sciences.
- We engage with initiatives and organizations that advance diversity and inclusion at Iowa State University.
- We model a community of practice theory providing each other welcoming access to hands on interactive experiences with experienced mentors to learn and network with peers.
- We recognize that we each have unique learning styles, goals, and lived experiences which may require customized accommodations.
- We provide constructive criticism but also recognize the positive aspects of each other's work.
- We express gratitude to those who assist us in accomplishing our goals.
- We acknowledge our mistakes and use them as stepping stones for growth.
- During discussions we allow each member equal opportunity to speak without interruption.
- We discuss the merits of ideas not people. We do not resort to ad hominem attacks.
- We work with persons with disabilities to identify appropriate accommodations that allows for equal participation in educational activities.
- We work to develop effective scientific communication skills that allow us to communicate our work in a professional and engaging way to a diverse array of stakeholders.
- We conduct scientific outreach to youth to encourage interest an curiosity in science and nature.
- We strive to collaborate across scientific disciplines in our research and teaching.
Commitment to Action
We will work with students to develop an actionable plan to uphold these ethical principles within our lab and extend them to the university and broader scientific communities. Discriminatory conduct or improper conduct within the lab will not be tolerated and should be reported to Dr. Michael Moore. Repeated violations will be referred to appropriate University officials.
Parts of this code of ethics were adapted from those developed by others including the Tucker Lab Group