EDI Lab Statement

 Ongoing reflection and action are required to build and maintain a just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive environment. We, as members of the King Lab, have worked together to develop this collective plan and set of expectations for reflection, self-education, action, and accountability. We strive to create a safe, fair, and equitable working environment for all lab members and the broader community.
 
 Members of marginalized groups experience discrimination in all forms which can prevent them from achieving academic success and wellbeing in other aspects of life. Our research is at the intersection of evolution and ecology, fields which suffer from a lack of diversity. There are structural biases in academia, particularly in the recruitment process and in retention and inclusion of researchers/students from marginalized backgrounds.
 
  We are united in knowing that science and society benefit from multiple perspectives, approaches, and backgrounds.  We are committed to the following:
 
  •  Engage with implicit bias training on an ongoing basis. Be open to recognising and correcting our mistakes and biases through education.
  •  Being active in seeking justice for marginalised communities within science and our communities.
  •  Direct people to additional support and resources where needed.
  •  Listen to, amplify the voices of, and speak up for marginalized groups at all levels – within our lab, field, department, and university communities.
  •  Use inclusive language (e.g. neutral pronouns when applicable, use ‘colleagues/friends’ as group nouns, no ableist language).
  •  Recognise that we all come from different personal and professional backgrounds, with different perspectives and privileges.
  •  Acknowledge and give appropriate credit to contributions, confront microaggressions and bigotry, and advocate for greater diversity in the university community.
  •  Ensure that lab work and events are inclusive. Encourage participation and engagement of all lab members in both professional and social settings.
  •  Engage in outreach activities to promote ecology and evolution to a broader section of society.
  •  Host lab meetings (at least 2/year) focused on reading about and discussing an equity, diversity, and inclusion issue or highlighting science from colleagues in marginalized groups.
  •  Diversify our lists of invited speakers and references in our scientific work, teaching, and science communication.
 Finally, we will regularly re-assess these commitments to improve EDI and promote discussions in the workplace. With that in mind, we will hold each other accountable for our actions and behaviours. We will receive feedback with an open mind with the aim of improving our language and actions in the future.