Dear SML Community,
Maya Angelou once said: “I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.” As I envision the exciting and science-filled 2022 season on Appledore Island this summer, I see a diversity of people engaged with science in a community where everyone feels welcome. Our work demands this vision to be reality. Marine science and the sustainable use of the world’s oceans requires the infusion of social equity across all efforts - from who does the science, to what kinds of scientific questions are pursued, to how science is applied, and so much more.
At Shoals Marine Laboratory, we are actively building a more equitable institution where all people feel they belong. We have been making progress via engaging a wider array of speakers, students, and scientists. This winter, the year-round staff completed more equity training, including bias-prevention training and practice. We tripled the number of Black students and increased students of color last summer by almost 10% in the first year of our new diversity scholarship. For 2022, we have increased funding for this scholarship, and we are busy giving away over $600,000 in scholarships right now.
We know these efforts are early actions. We know diversity is not enough without belonging. Our efforts to do our part dismantling a bias system that reaches across time and space is a life-long endeavor and we are committed. Our oceans and our community deserve our effort.
We welcome your engagement in any form that calls to you, from funding the Shoals Diversity Scholarship Fund to pointing out where we can make improvements. You can review our action plan on our
Belonging homepage. I look forward to a summer of belonging in our academic, science, and public engagement programs and hosting you on island as well.
