In the PLACE lab we are working towards making biology more inclusive and equitable by disrupting patriarchal (e.g. here and here) and white supremacist (e.g. here and here) traditions in academia.
Supporting under-represented and under-supported communities is key to my actions as a white, upper-middle class and queer scientist, artist and educator. Throughout my career, a primary way I engage with this work is through public school outreach. I attended a public middle school in a white suburb of Philadelphia and then attended a majority black public high school in Philadelphia. Through these experiences I learned first hand about the vast, systemic opportunity gap (note: not "achievement" gap) between different schools. Ever since, I have been committed to use my privilege to collaborate with and support under-resourced public schools. In addition to public school outreach, I have also led diversity initiatives (primarily reading and discussion groups) at my institutions and beyond. Lastly, I acknowledge that the majority of my research has been performed on the traditional land of the Massachusett, Pawtucket, and Nipmuc people past and present. I am currently learning more about the Native American communities of New England in order to honor their communities. I am also investigating ways to give back to these communities. I will continue to do this work for the rest of my career and am open to any and all feedback to become a better anti-racist, activist and advocate. Please be in touch to discuss more!
Examples of current DEI approaches:
Previous actions:
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