Inclusivity and Outreach

As a university and a lab group, we value diversity in all forms. We are committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, language differences, nationality or national origin, family or marital status, race, religion or creed, sexual orientation, color, socio-economic status, education, work styles, military or veteran status, and disability. We strive to ensure an inclusive and welcoming environment for all our group members. It is our goal to maintain a positive lab, work, and classroom environment where everyone feels supported, listened to and able to do their personal best. While we can never truly eliminate all workplace biases, we strive for respectful communication and an open dialogue when issues arise. Discriminatory workplace harassment and bullying will not be tolerated. We are committed to learning from each other and continuing our education and growth through programs like UR’s Safe Space training. More information on this certification program and additional educational resources at UR can be found here. For details on the diversity and inclusion policies at UR click here.

The newly constructed TRACER lab incorporates universal design principles wherever possible. This includes workspaces positioned at varying heights, including an ADA-compliant fume hood and sink. The lab is outfitted with dual emergency response systems and placarding (i.e. audio and visual). Being an oceanographic and chemistry-based lab group, there are some guidelines that must be followed to ensure the safety of everyone working in the lab, in the field, and at sea. However, we are committed to searching for new solutions and adapting our procedures so that everyone who wants to conduct research and/or collaborate with our group has the opportunity. If you’re interested in our research, please stop by for a chat. Your thoughts and suggestions can help us create a more inclusive facility and research group!

While covid restrictions have limited many of our efforts since 2020, it is more important than ever to reach out to students at all levels, to push for positive change within our respective scientific fields, and to find creative ways to share our research with the broader community. Last year Dr. Black participated in the 16-week, NSF-funded virtual URGE program whose objectives are to: (1) deepen the community’s knowledge of the effects of racism on the participation and retention of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in Geoscience, (2) draw on existing literature, expert opinions, and personal experiences to develop anti-racist policies and strategies, and (3) share, discuss, and modify anti-racist policies and strategies within a dynamic community network and on a national stage. Please check out their resources page for general information as well as geoscience-specific literature.