A Message from CMS Leadership
All of us at the College of Marine Science are deeply saddened by the deaths of George Floyd in Minnesota, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky. George, Ahmaud, and Breonna were certainly not the first to lose their lives to racial injustice, and we support every effort that aims to eradicate the systemic racism that has plagued our country for far too long.
We acknowledge the role that science and academia has played in perpetuating inequalities. Black scientists, and scientists of color more broadly, continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields. What’s more, it has historically fallen on their shoulders to educate white scientists about the issues of systemic racism, rather than sharing the burden together.
We all have a role to play in eradicating racism. We acknowledge with passion and humility the need to achieve racial equality throughout the research and academic enterprise in which we operate. We are more committed than ever in our efforts to improve diversity, equality, and inclusion.
We reaffirm the College of Marine Science is a place for anyone who has a passion for the oceans and for science, who values different perspectives, and who cherishes the opportunity to think critically and promote dialogue -- regardless of what you look like, what you believe, or where you come from.