Our Culture

Fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for all is an ongoing objective of our Center. We strive to enhance our educational impact, recognizing and valuing different perspectives and backgrounds.

 

- Nicole Terranova           

Education Director          

 

 

We have developed a set of guidelines and practical actions to assist our members and partners in fostering a supportive and fair environment. This set of guidelines has been approved by the BioXFEL Education Committee and Steering Committee.

 

1. Supporting Representation - What more can we do at all levels to address this?

  1. Encourage University departments to address specific challenges within their contexts.

  2. Promote coordination among departments by assisting, educating, and motivating the community.

  3. Commit to practices that address unconscious bias and structural barriers.

  4. Create a balanced environment for all.

 

2. Building Welcoming Environments - How do we do this, and what does it mean?

  1. Respect and accommodate the customs and traditions of all.

  2. Make all members feel welcomed and valued from the start.

    - Engage with individuals on a personal level.

    - Seek their input on decision-making and problem-solving.

    - Offer assistance and build open working relationships.

  3. Provide additional support to those facing greater challenges.

    - Support may include financial assistance, emotional encouragement, professional development, educational opportunities, sponsorship, or mentoring. Start by asking individuals what they need most.

 

3. Support for Faculty with challenges

  1. Establish a support network within your groups (labs, departments, etc.) to provide resources for colleagues who face greater obstacles.

  2. Begin by understanding their specific challenges through open dialogue and asking how you can help.

  

4. Develop a Process to Address discrimination

  1. Follow your institute action plan to address these situations, ensuring your labs, departments, and institutions can respond effectively.

  2. Know what action is appropriate.

  3. Make the policy accessible to all applicable individuals, ensuring it is understood.

 

5. Recognizing and Addressing Issues

  1. Learn to identify barriers, respond appropriately, and work toward correcting them.

  2. Create an open door policy for all.