SEAS Blog

February 15, 2024

On Accessibility

Rianon Wallace-Demby,
Marine Biology and Ecology Department

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are not just buzzwords, it is more than the illustrative infographic that floats around on social media; they are essential principles to fostering a more inclusive and accessible society. DEI to me means access. Access to spaces previously barred to those that looked like me, access to a seat at the table so that my voice can be heard, access to a world I never knew I could take part in. DEI to me is about breaking down barriers, challenging biases, and fostering a culture of belonging and acceptance for all.

As a Black disabled woman my journey into STEM has been rife with challenges, from implicit biases to lack of representation; I had always felt isolated and that I was an imposter in the field. My academic journey has been filled with the word no, no I couldn’t be a scientist, no I wouldn’t succeed and graduate, no way I could possibly be in a lab and do research. In undergrad, I constantly had professors tell me that I wouldn’t amount to anything, that I was wasting space and resources, and that I did not take my academics seriously all for the simple fact that they refused to understand how chronic health issues could impact a person. This lack of understanding created additional barriers and made me feel even more isolated in the field.

Despite the constant setbacks, I persisted. I wouldn’t have made it to the point I’m at today without accessibility tools such as accommodations and disability advocates on campus. I wouldn’t have made it had I not joined groups such as Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science (BWEEMS) or Black in Marine Science (BIMS) that allowed me to be in spaces that not only validated me but allowed me to see a future career in science through the lens of representation that had been so missed in my academic journey.

In order for us to succeed, we have to create spaces in which we feel seen and safe. Where there is a permanent seat for us at the table, where the intersections of our entire persona is valued. Through DEI we are breaking those barriers, craving these spaces out in institutions, and telling those that have been historically excluded that they do belong.

February 1, 2024

The Power of Community in STEM

McKenzie Zapata,
SEAS Diversity Scholarship Application

As a female first-generation student who identifies with historically excluded groups, I have carried a lot of weight with me throughout my personal and educational journey. Through the academic, financial, and social challenges of navigating higher education with limited support, it can feel like a very lonely path to go down on your own. I express my sincere gratitude for initiatives such as SEAS that help to break down these types of systemic barriers. SEAS has created a community that is built on providing people with access to a safe space in order to learn and grow as individuals, students, and researchers.

I only understood the importance of community once I stepped foot on the Rosenstiel campus for the first time. For the first time in my life, I was surrounded by folks who showed a deep interest in my success both personally and academically. They offered their time and attention to check in with me to ensure I remained on my path to success. I had never felt seen, heard, valued, or experienced this strong sense of belonging before beginning my graduate studies. I began to feel less alone and later even discovered my passion for mentorship in an effort to be the person I wish I had early on in my journey as I was navigating new spaces such as these.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are critical in creating safe spaces where people can feel comfortable and supported in order to prevent the impacts of systemic barriers that exist within STEM. In spaces where inequities and challenges faced by historically excluded or economically disadvantaged groups exist, it is important to bring people together and address difficult topics. Diversity and representation are necessary for diverse ideas and contributions to build in order to strengthen STEM. Audre Lorde once said in a powerful statement, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.”

Through the DEI efforts that SEAS has brought to the Rosenstiel School, I have seen and experienced firsthand an inclusive and welcoming environment where safety and success are equally important standards. It is vital that we all continue to ask ourselves who is in the room, who is trying to get in the room but can’t, and have everyone’s ideas been heard. When these crucial DEI principles are applied, this is when the power of community in STEM can exist in all types of spaces.

December 1, 2022

Breaking Barriers in STEM

Ruby Morillo

What do diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mean to me? Broadly to me, it means having everyone represented in the field of STEM. It means creating equal opportunities regardless of your economic, cultural, or racial background. Not only that, but it is important to have spaces so people can express themselves without fear of extreme judgement or rejection from society. By creating these spaces, we hope to make people feel comfortable pursuing what they desire.

The field of STEM is already a challenging and competitive field, with people often fighting to make discoveries and claim them as their own. If we can limit the number of obstacles people face to access via DEI, we can widen pathways for people to access STEM so that systemic barriers preventing access can be broken.

The goal is to provide spaces where individuals feel safe to share, and through that empower each other rather than working against each other. It is important to accumulate these different perspectives as well because everyone has a different background which can help with the advancement of science.

As a Hispanic/Canadian individual, it's often easy to feel out of place at school. At Rosenstiel, I found that most individuals in the program were American. Which as a Canadian I found that I could relate to some topics but the other half of me found it difficult. Knowing that there are these spaces where I can identify with other students who may feel out of place is very comforting. It makes me feel that I have people to relate to when I am far from home. It is also important to have these spaces to have those difficult conversations that may be hard to bring up.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important for bringing people together and addressing difficult topics. Without it, various fields have to potential to become biased.