The Department of Biological Sciences acknowledges the barriers that people of colour and other marginalized groups face, particularly in science and academia. As a department, we are committed to creating a welcoming scientific community where everyone feels safe, comfortable participating, and has the necessary support to thrive. The EDI committee will meet regularly to discuss equity and inclusion and make recommendations for improvements to our departmental policies and practices to the Department Chair, and monitor the effectiveness of these efforts. The EDI committee will seek ongoing input from all members of the department, including students, post-doctoral fellows, staff and faculty, as well as actively engage with the literature on best practices. The committee may also devise and implement new initiatives aimed at increasing inclusion in the Department.
Bio Sci EDI Committee Members: Maydianne Andrade, Rene Harrison, Ivana Stehlik, Bebhinn Treanor, Aarthi Ashok, Scott MacIvor, Adam Mott, Karolyn Keir, Ina Anreiter
Current Initiatives
Develop Bio Sci scholarship for black and indigenous high school students
Increase BIPOC faculty hires
Develop best faculty mentorship practices for equity deserving groups
Develop EDI curriculum content for Bio Sci for undergraduate courses
Distribute signage of our anti-racist policies in the Science Buildings
Create a Biology “safe space” to address discriminatory activities