Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Science is for everyone
Science benefits from ideas when we’re all included and feel valued. The laboratory is a space for ideas to come to life, and bringing diverse minds to these spaces is critical for supporting the future of science.
Unfortunately, science has a history of exclusion. Though we all can bring wonderful ideas to the forefront and contribute to the scientific endeavor, some have had an easier path than others. Making this path open to everyone is our lab’s goal. Here’s how we’re doing it.
Accepting of all.
In the Mounce Lab, you can be free to be yourself, to express yourself, and to thrive in an environment where you are celebrated as an individual. We are a group of distinct people coming together to experiment, optimize, push, play, encourage, and communicate. Despite our commonalities or differences, we can all enjoy being in the laboratory, being ourselves.
Reflecting.
Science hasn’t always been inclusive of everyone, and there’s a lot of work to do. That means that we have a lot of work to do. We can and do support diversity by reflecting on the errors of the past and correcting these errors in our present. We do this by being aware and reflecting on how we can support diversity, followed by action.
Engaging our community.
When did you first know you wanted to be a scientist? Some of us would say we “always” knew. Some of us never knew who a scientist is. By demonstrating to our community, both locally and broadly, that scientists can be anyone, we can encourage the next generation to think of themselves as scientists now and consider remaining scientists in their futures.
Supporting all scientists and future scientists.
Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion doesn’t stop at encouraging others to be scientists. Scientists need support and resources to succeed. While we might not have measures to support everyone monetarily, we can be there physically and emotionally to support others in their scientific journeys. Being a source of compassion and support goes a long way in making sure others feel like they aren’t alone.