Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
Contact: diversity[at]lisamission.org
Co-chairs: Saurya Das, Nathan Steinle
The Consortium Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee is responsible for all matters pertaining to the core values stated in the Consortium code of conduct. In particular, the Committee organizes DEI activities for Consortium meetings, maintains Consortium documents relevant to DEI, consults on Consortium leadership and committee appointments, and collaborates with DEI professionals and DEI groups within peer organizations such as the Multimessenger Diversity Network (MDN).
We are committed to addressing systemic inequalities through promoting open discussions and by supporting Consortium groups and members in their work to create positive change. These professionals and collaborators engage in the work of challenging and dismantling the structures which permit and propagate oppression based on a person’s race, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, age, or any other aspect of their identity. Such efforts strengthen our community and support its members, and so contribute to the overall mission of the Consortium.
Activities
Some recent events and initiatives from the Committee include
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Taking part in the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
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Coordinating with the LISA Social Media Team (LSMT) to promote DEI-related events and days of observation
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Undertaking a demographics survey of the Consortium in order to better understand the makeup and distribution of our members with respect to markers such as seniority, identity, and location.
Organizational documents
Committee membership
The current members of the committee are:
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Saurya Das | Co-chair |
| Nathan Steinle | Co-chair |
| Tania Regimbau | Core member |
| Elias C. Vagenas | Core member |
| Hontas Farmer | Core member |
| Ricardo Waibel | Core member |
| Hannah Middleton | Core member |
| Jaime Redondo-Yuste | Core member |
| Samar Safi-Harb | Core member |
| Joey S. Key | Observer (CCC) |
| Nora Luetzgendorf | Observer (ESA) |
The committee solicits applications for new members during each summer, typically June thru August. We meet once per two weeks year-round, with one-month breaks in the winter and summer. If you're interested in getting involved in the committee, or if you have questions or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us, either to the whole committee (diversity[at]lisamission.org) or to any member individually.
DEI resources
The committee has published guidelines for making LISA meetings accessible.
Here are a few resources we believe are of broad use to the LISA community. Inclusion on this list is not meant to imply any official endorsement by the LISA Consortium.
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The Multimessenger Diversity Network maintains a list of resources relevant to its member organizations here
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Conference organizers can find information about making their meetings more accessible here
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Hiring committees can find information about best-practices for faculty searches here (possibly U.S.-specific), here (possibly Canada-specific), or here (possibly Switzerland/Europe-specific).
Ombuds office
Consortium members who seek help due to interpersonal difficulties in the Consortium may work with the Ombuds office for information, advice, and assistance. The DEI committee does not administer the Ombuds office. Please feel free to contact David Shoemaker, dhs[at]mit.edu.
LISA Consortium code of conduct
The Consortium code of conduct may be found here. The Consortium expects all members of any rank to read and abide by this code.