Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The LPL community is committed to creating a working environment that is safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all.

Statement on Diversity

Science can succeed only if there is diversity—diversity of ideas, of perspectives, and of individuals. We at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) value diversity in all of its forms. LPL strives to address inherent problems that exist within planetary science, and academia in general. LPL is at the forefront of planetary and space sciences, and as such must stand as an ally to and in solidarity with its community members regardless of race, national origin, immigration status, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, intellectual and physical ability, income, faith and non-faith perspectives, socio-economic class, political ideology, education, primary language, family status, military experience, cognitive style, and communication style, and with all people who intersect these groups. We strongly believe that the science and knowledge we pursue every day is a human pursuit strengthened through the participation of these historically minoritized groups.

LPL is at the forefront of planetary and space sciences, and as such must stand as an ally to and in solidarity with its community members regardless of sex, race, age, national origin, immigration status, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, intellectual and physical ability, income, faith and non-faith perspectives, socio-economic class, political ideology, education, primary language, family status, military experience, cognitive style, and communication style, and all people who intersect these groups. We strongly believe that the science and knowledge we pursue every day is not only a human pursuit, but also strengthened through the participation of these historically minoritized groups.

All of us in planetary science must recognize that past practices in STEM fields have not been welcoming or encouraging to these groups. To move forward, we must all actively engage in counteracting the ongoing issues these groups face within our field.

To help raise awareness, provide resources, and produce an accessible platform for these problems, we developed the Department Life Committee (DLC). The DLC exists as an important resource for anybody in the department who is experiencing problems at LPL, regardless of employment status or the nature of challenges. It is also a platform from which to gain access to UA and community resources, information, and training on how to be an ally, bystander intervention, and safespace training. Updates will be ongoing, as our awareness and actions to address these problems evolve.