Justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, sovereignty
In the Stevens lab, we build change-makers. We assemble a team of diverse of scientists to enhance the excellence of our science and to bring unique knowledge and perspectives to our work. We work diligently to create an equitable and inclusive space for people of all races, ethnicities, religions, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
We do this because we realize that diversity is critical for producing our most innovative science, as it brings diverse viewpoints and experiences to our table. We find that each of us are most creative and engaged when we feel valued, stimulated, included, and celebrated. This is how we create our best selves and our best work. This is how we will develop technologies that enhance the health for not just some people, but for all people.
We also recognize the barriers and discrimination faced by many underrepresented communities and intersectional identities in science. In particular, we recognize systemic racism both broadly and within academia and we fight to dismantle it. We require all of our lab members to self-educate on the racism and barriers faced by many in our community and society. We dedicate a lab meeting each quarter to discussing anti-racism and examine our own prejudices and practices. We hold uncomfortable conversations when needed. This has brought us together as a group. We find that it is through discomfort that we grow. A list of reading, listening, and viewing is linked here (thank you, Susy).
Even as we continue to introspect, learn, and grow, we also act. We are intentionally building a scientific community that fosters inclusive excellence from within - not only through education but also with action.
With each manuscript that we write, we intentionally track our own citation demographics so that we can identify bias when it arises and hold ourselves accountable. We cite Black authors and other members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
We apply our creativity and effort to dismantle inequitable barriers faced by members of our community, such that we might all have equal opportunity. See one example of this work here, co-lead by Kelly Stevens along with many faculty colleagues in Bioengineering calling on NIH to Fund Black scientists. We use our time, any privilege each of us may have, and our own unique platforms to elevate diverse voices and call out racism and other injustices when we encounter them.
We routinely do outreach activities together as a group to make science more accessible in the greater-Seattle community. We find that this has built a sense of societal mission in our lab in addition to being a service to our community.
We are active in local organizations working to promote diversity. We have built a Slack channel and local community called “ISCRM UNITE” to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our local work environment. Through this community, we share anti-racism resources, discuss experiences and observations of racism and prejudice, listen to and amplify diverse voices, and organize action. For example, we worked with ISCRM UNITE to create educational flyers to elevate our workspace and communities collective understanding of racism and allyship. We have posted these around our building and rotate them routinely. Flyers created by Dennis Fer and Susy Simmonds with ISCRM UNITE
Join us in our mission to build a scientific profession that understands that for our work to advance the health of all people, we as a profession must first include all people. We are stronger together.
We do this because we realize that diversity is critical for producing our most innovative science, as it brings diverse viewpoints and experiences to our table. We find that each of us are most creative and engaged when we feel valued, stimulated, included, and celebrated. This is how we create our best selves and our best work. This is how we will develop technologies that enhance the health for not just some people, but for all people.
We also recognize the barriers and discrimination faced by many underrepresented communities and intersectional identities in science. In particular, we recognize systemic racism both broadly and within academia and we fight to dismantle it. We require all of our lab members to self-educate on the racism and barriers faced by many in our community and society. We dedicate a lab meeting each quarter to discussing anti-racism and examine our own prejudices and practices. We hold uncomfortable conversations when needed. This has brought us together as a group. We find that it is through discomfort that we grow. A list of reading, listening, and viewing is linked here (thank you, Susy).
Even as we continue to introspect, learn, and grow, we also act. We are intentionally building a scientific community that fosters inclusive excellence from within - not only through education but also with action.
With each manuscript that we write, we intentionally track our own citation demographics so that we can identify bias when it arises and hold ourselves accountable. We cite Black authors and other members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.
We apply our creativity and effort to dismantle inequitable barriers faced by members of our community, such that we might all have equal opportunity. See one example of this work here, co-lead by Kelly Stevens along with many faculty colleagues in Bioengineering calling on NIH to Fund Black scientists. We use our time, any privilege each of us may have, and our own unique platforms to elevate diverse voices and call out racism and other injustices when we encounter them.
We routinely do outreach activities together as a group to make science more accessible in the greater-Seattle community. We find that this has built a sense of societal mission in our lab in addition to being a service to our community.
We are active in local organizations working to promote diversity. We have built a Slack channel and local community called “ISCRM UNITE” to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in our local work environment. Through this community, we share anti-racism resources, discuss experiences and observations of racism and prejudice, listen to and amplify diverse voices, and organize action. For example, we worked with ISCRM UNITE to create educational flyers to elevate our workspace and communities collective understanding of racism and allyship. We have posted these around our building and rotate them routinely. Flyers created by Dennis Fer and Susy Simmonds with ISCRM UNITE
Join us in our mission to build a scientific profession that understands that for our work to advance the health of all people, we as a profession must first include all people. We are stronger together.
