Diversity Statement

The RC Lab Diversity Statement

As a lab and an academic community, we recognize that institutionalized discrimination -- based on race, gender, disability, age, and socioeconomic status, among other attributes -- persists in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology.  We acknowledge multiple forms of discrimination  and the inherent value of diversity. We are committed to fostering diversity within avenues of our work through cultivating antiracist and equity-minded approaches . To this end, we have crafted our own goals on inclusion, core values, and anti-racism. We also recognize the need to assess our success in accomplishing the commitments described below and are working on approaches and metrics to evaluate our performance. This statement serves as a living document that is re-visited and revised quarterly.

In the RC Lab, we foster antiracism and equity-mindedness (McNair et al. 2020):

In the RC Lab Group:

• We cultivate an environment where lab members feel safe sharing their needs, asking for help, and working collaboratively.  To make sure our lab is both a safe community and a safe physical space:

  • • We honor a diversity of thought and all identities.

    • We respectfully address concerns whether they are voiced in the moment or upon reflection at a later date.

• We commit to regularly discussing our norms, progress, and re-commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage everyone to participate in shaping the lab environment and policies, and create opportunities for feedback to PIs.

  • • We dedicate one lab meeting quarterly to DEI discussions, commitments, and opportunities for improvement, including revisiting this diversity statement.

• We practice anitracism and equity-mindedness in recruiting and mentoring students to be a part of our research.

  • • We currently encourage our undergraduates to participate in the CAMINO, STEM Diversity, and Doris Duke Conservation Scholars programs, as well as the high school Science Internship program, and seek out funding opportunities for fellowships, grants, and programs that are focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

    • We work with local schools to encourage participation of youth in RC lab research. 

    • We ensure that advertisements are sent to multiple networks.

• The RC lab has been engaged in the development of the GoDive Gear Lending Program at UCSC. The purpose of the GoDive Program is to lend undergraduate, graduate, and staff with SCUPA equipment to reduce financial barriers to scientific diving.

In our Research Practices:

• We encourage research practices that address equity, consider the socio-ecological context of our work and its impacts on diverse communities.

• We adhere to UCSC anti-discriminatory practices throughout field prep, courses, and research. 

• We commit to providing equitable opportunities for students, researchers, and field staff and adhere to UC recruitment policies and practices that ensure this. 

• We promote participation in field courses by all individuals, as these courses retain many and more diverse students (Beltran et al. 2020, Zavaleta et. al 2020).

  • • As a lab we are currently exploring ways to further expand access to these courses, ultimately increasing the diversity of students in our field.

• We promote open and engaging field research, where all individuals may learn from one another, feel confident in participating, and understand that their concerns are valued. 

• We encourage and incorporate feedback from individuals we work with and outside observers.

• We stress to all field participants that questions are appreciated, encouraged, and will be met with thoughtful responses.

• We commit to decolonizing field practices by respectfully engaging with stakeholders of the land where research is planned. 

  • • For example, members of our lab have sought permission to conduct research in traditional territories managed by Tlingit and Haida people since time immemorial. We acknowledge the unceded territory where we conduct research and throughout the process of researching cultural resources, we involve tribal citizens and governments to identify additional questions and co-develop a research plan. 

• We respect the multiple knowledge sources communities maintain, including Local and Indigenous Knowledge. We recognize these sources each have integrity and contribute to a more comprehensive view of ecosystem changes and species interactions.

  • • For example, in Southeast Alaska and Baja California, Mexico, we recognize distinct tribal and local governments with their own knowledge, management, and understanding of local resources.

In the Classroom:

• We commit to anti-discriminatory teaching by implementing inclusive and equitable teaching practices, and foster inclusive, welcoming class climates. 

  • • For example, all of the Teaching Assistants (TAs) in our lab have participated in the Teaching as an Ethical Practice course through UCSC, with many participating in additional pedagogy training such as the CITL Graduate Pedagogy Fellowship Program,  Pedagogy for Graduates, and the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate Program.

• We make clear our expectations not only for student performance, but also our expectations for respectful student engagement.

• We encourage students to adopt growth-mindsets; no student is “born bad at” a subject. Instead, we foster the idea that every skill can be learned and improved over time, regardless of previous ability.

• We design class activities with multiple pathways for learning and provide varied forms of assessment. 

• We ensure that all students have equitable access to course content and learning.

  • • For example, we encourage students unable to procure needed equipment to contact the University’s Slug Support program.

• We prioritize field observation opportunities that are local (e.g. on the UCSC Natural Reserve) or provide van access for field trips.

  • • For example, in designing the Marine Ecology Field Lab (BIOE 158), we prioritized nearby coastal marine sites for field excursions.

In the Broader Community:

• Our lab members will regularly engage in outreach with our local community to communicate the science we are conducting. 

  • • Previous outreach events include hands-on classroom activities for students to learn about marine biology, and science talks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

• We are aligning our efforts with those of the broader EEB and general academic community aimed toward increasing diversity, equity and inclusion and correcting systems of exclusion.

References:

Beltran, R. S., Marnocha, E., Race, A., Croll, D. A., Dayton, G. H., & Zavaleta, E. S. (2020). Field courses narrow demographic achievement gaps in ecology and evolutionary biology. Ecology and Evolution, 10(12), 5184-5196.

McNair, Tia Brown, Estela Mara Bensimon, and Lindsey Malcom-Piqueux. From equity talk to equity walk: Expanding practitioner knowledge for racial justice in higher education. John Wiley & Sons, 2020. 

Zavaleta, Erika S., Roxanne S. Beltran, and Abraham L. Borker. 2020. How Field Courses Propel Inclusion and Collective Excellence. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 35(11): 953-956.