The deaths of George Floyd and other Black Americans have led many of us to reflect on issues of racial justice and social justice more broadly. These issues have long been important to UF Biology, and in fall 2019, a new departmental committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) was formed. According to committee chair Dr. Nick Keiser, the DEI committee was formed “as part of our ongoing journey towards making the department a more safe, welcoming, prosperous and equitable environment for students, postdocs, staff and faculty from underserved and underrepresented populations.”
The committee currently includes five faculty members and two graduate students who work to share and implement best practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion along numerous axes, including race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexuality, ability and social diversity. Professor Colette St. Mary commented, “I am pleased that our committee was formed in time for us to help lead the department to information and actions that raise awareness in this moment when racial inequality and inequity are so much in the spotlight. All of us on the committee are hopeful that we can ride this tide of attention to make specific improvements in the Department of Biology and UF at large.”
The Department of Biology has responded in a variety of ways. Echoing a call from President Fuchs, many members of the department participated in #ShutDownSTEM day (June 10, 2020) by spending time focused on self-education and advocacy. Many also participated in Black Survival and Wellness Week (June 19-25), organized by Academics for Black Survival and Wellness. And a proposal by Biology faculty member Dr. Christine Davis to begin an Antiracism Reading Group was met with such overwhelming enthusiasm that multiple discussion sessions had to be scheduled.
Professor and Chair Marta Wayne captured the sentiments of our community: “The Department of Biology unequivocally stands against white supremacy in every form. We recognize that racism is systemic in our country, and it exists beyond police brutality… We consider it our responsibility to identify sources of inequity in our community and to change them.”