Statement of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community

Parker Lab Statement of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community

We are a collaborative lab that genuinely cares for each other and seeks ways to support and lift one another. We welcome and embrace diversity in all its forms. We welcome all, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, or ethnicity and cultural background, and we affirm that science is compatible with every faith tradition. We celebrate that we are stronger together because of the diversity of our gifts and perspectives.

The fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation do not adequately reflect the diversity of people in our country and our world. We actively work to promote equity and create an inclusive culture in our lab, in our university, and in our society. To help bring about change, we participate in mentoring and outreach programs that increase access to higher education and widen representation in STEM fields. The Black Lives Matter movement has brought the history and impact of systemic racism into sharp relief. We commit ourselves to listen more openly, to see more honestly, and to speak up and act when we perceive racial inequities or bigotry of any kind.

UC Santa Cruz is a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a majority-minority student body, and more than 40% of our students are the first in their family to attend college. We are both inspired and humbled by the grit and determination of the students we teach and mentor. We strive to embody the ideals of the University of California, that "Ideas, and practices based on those ideas, can be made richer by the process of being born and nurtured in a diverse community… Educational excellence that truly incorporates diversity thus can promote mutual respect and make possible the full, effective use of the talents and abilities of all to foster innovation and train future leadership." (University of California Diversity Statement, 2006)

Finally, we acknowledge the stewards, both historic and current, of the lands everywhere we do ecological research, from the Hoh River in Washington to the islands of Guna Yala in Panama. We acknowledge with gratitude the privilege of studying the biodiversity of these lands. Our lab is located on the unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe. The Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, the descendants of indigenous people taken to missions Santa Cruz and San Juan Bautista during Spanish colonization of the Central Coast, is today working hard to restore traditional stewardship practices on these lands and heal from historical trauma.

In the Parker Lab, we believe that each person brings a unique and valuable perspective, and each person’s special gifts are needed and respected. We embrace diversity as one of our core values, and we pledge to advocate for equity and inclusion in our department. We want you to know that no matter who you are, you are welcome here.