I am incredibly proud of the students in the lab, spearheaded by Lourenço Martins (Neuroscience ’21), for engaging in the difficult discussions to develop these statements. It is by no means complete. Our work is ongoing.
Lower Lab Principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Lower Lab is committed to maintaining an inclusive lab environment, regardless of age, race, color, nationality, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, immigration status or socio-economic background, for anyone that is interested in firefly and genomic research.
We will not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind in the lab, at lab functions on or off-site, online, in the field, conferences, or any other Lower Lab events.
We will strive daily to support individuals struggling with discrimination, providing an open and welcoming environment, advocating on their behalf when appropriate, and connecting them with the support and resources that they need. As a laboratory, we firmly believe that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential for the success of science. Together, as a lab, we will actively promote a supporting working environment in which all scientists can thrive.
The Lower Lab affirms that:
BLACK LIVES MATTER
TRANS LIVES MATTER
WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS
LOVE IS LOVE
SCIENCE IS REAL
NO HUMAN IS ILLEGAL
KINDNESS IS EVERYTHING
INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE
In order to uphold those standards, we have developed immediate and longer term actions that are specifically designed to combat system racism. Specifically, we will:
- Hold colleagues and ourselves accountable for creating a healthy, anti-racist workplace
2. Enhance diversity and inclusion in our community by:
- Commencing efforts to include at least one local institution in fieldwork activities beginning with the next available field season
- Citing BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ scientists in our papers
- Seeking out BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ collaborators and seminar speakers
- Encouraging and supporting BIPOC, First Gen, and LGBTQIA students to apply for fellowships, including generating an in-house database of possibilities on our in-house SLACK channel
- Ensuring fieldwork safety for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ researchers, especially in regions known for discrimination by investing in/using
- reflective vests to increase visibility
- a buddy system
- walkie talkies to facilitate communication where there may not be cell phone service
- arriving at least 30 min before expected collection times to familiarize ourselves with the collection site
- establishing a local point of contact prior to each night’s fieldwork
- Including a photo of first and senior authors (if possible) during scientific paper presentations in lab meetings to bring attention to representation in science
- Advocating for diversity in new faculty hires in our roles as faculty and students
- Increase our knowledge and understanding of systemic racism by:
- Creating SLACK channel focused on sharing ideas and resources related to DE&I
- Devoting at least one lab meeting per semester to a DE&I reading, issue, or action
Lower Lab Statement of Solidarity
We, the Lower Lab, are heartbroken and angered by recent events, including the horrific murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, the shooting of Jacob Blake, the Trump Administration’s decision to roll back Health Care for Transgender individuals and their overall handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. These events, which continue to occur, are reminders that systemic racism, sexism, and xenophobia is tightly stitched into the fabric of American society- from daily microaggressions against Black individuals, to institutional policies that perpetuate inequality and overt violent acts of racism and prejudice.
Science is not immune to systemic racism and politics – they have been ingrained in science throughout history from eugenics, the Tuskegee Airmen, the wrongful acquisition of HeLa cells from Henrietta Lacks, all the way to the under-representation of historically excluded groups from COVID-19 vaccine trials. We echo the words of the Hoekstra lab in that “Key concepts in evolutionary genomics have been, and continue to be, misused to justify, and support racism and racist ideologies.”
Today, our Black colleagues face discrimination at every stage of their career, as students seeking admission to programs, to established academics during hiring to promotion and securing funding. Our Black colleagues experience everything from systemic indignities to overt racism with our scientific communities, every single day. Likewise, our LGBTQIA+ colleagues, especially those that identify as transgender, also face discrimination at every stage of their career, and experience indignities simply because of their gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
As PI of the lab, coming from a place of power and privilege due to my position, identity, and background, I recognize my responsibility to actively support and advocate for my Black and LGBTQIA+ past, current, and future students and colleagues. I have and will continue to make mistakes, but I will learn from them to do better.
The Lower Lab recognizes that as members of Bucknell University, a predominantly affluent white institution of higher learning in the U.S., it is our duty to aid the combat against racism, sexism xenophobia, transphobia and all other forms of discrimination and harassment.
Our scientific communities are losing stellar researchers every day because of the pervasive systemic racism that is unconscious to many because it is so ingrained in the social systems of the US. This must stop. We urge scientists to join us in combating racism and encouraging conversations about racial inequities in our labs, institutions and society. Although they may be initially difficult, they are vital to creating and promoting environments in which all scientists can thrive.
*We were inspired and strengthened to write these statements by the documents of the Hoekstra lab and Davies lab. Thank you for your courage to engage these issues and lead the way.*
The Lower Lab 