The Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as it is central to our mission as an educational institution to ensure that each member of our community has the full opportunity to excel. Chemistry benefits society immensely, but our field does not adequately reflect the diverse communities we serve.¹ This population includes individuals with unique experiences as women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color along with other underrepresented groups and those with invisible identifiers (e.g., first generation, immigrants, low socioeconomic status, LGBTQ+, and/or scholars with disabilities). The racial and gender gap within chemistry facilitates inequality with regards to attrition, salary, recognition, and award.^2-9 The National Science Foundation’s National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics shows Black chemists have long been in low numbers in academia, and still routinely leave at every level. Barriers to entry and the attrition of underrepresented scientists poses an urgent threat to scientific innovation by missing out on diverse minds and talent.⁹ We cannot deny that systemic problems surrounding race and sex explicitly exist in chemistry.¹⁰ It is past time we spoke out in solidarity with our neighbors, in particular now, as the year of 2020 experienced shocking anti-Black racism, as evidenced by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. Violence and racism have been experienced by people across the globe throughout history, and this is unjust. 

As a community of chemists, we recognize and value our diverse experiences and backgrounds as we help develop the next generation of scientific talent and strive for chemical discovery. We commit ourselves to identify and eliminate racism and other forms of bias from all Department affairs, and ensure all members of our community have the opportunity to thrive. We commit to take action in service of marginalized people, and have started doing so. 

Contacts

Inclusive Excellence Committee: 

• Doug Tobias, Committee Chair (dtobias@uci.edu)
• Maxx Arguilla (marguill@uci.edu)
• Sarah Finkeldei (sfinkeld@uci.edu)
• Filipp Furche (filipp.furche@uci.edu)
• Amanda Holton (abrindle@uci.edu)
• Reg Penner (rmpenner@uci.edu)
• Jenny Yang (j.yang@uci.edu)
• Joe Patterson, DECADE Mentor (patters3@uci.edu)

Faculty interested in joining the Inclusive Excellence Committee or attending meetings, should contact Doug Tobias.

Resources

DEI Initiatives

• Department of Chemistry DEI Strategic Plan
• Department of Chemistry Statement of Community
• School of Physical Sciences Diversity Fellowship
• The American Chemical Society Bridge Program

Outreach

• AirUCI Outreach
• Chem-SURF
• COSMOS
• Furche Group High School Outreach Program
• Meet a Chemist
• Nano Electrochemistry eXtensions to Technology
• Research Saturday
• SoCal Undergrad Research Symposium
• The UCI Chemistry Outreach Program

 Campus Resources and Incident Reporting

• UCI Office of Inclusive Excellence
• Diverse Educational Community and Doctoral Experience (DECADE) Mentors
• List of Equity Advisors on UCI's Campus
• UCI Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity
• UCI Cross Cultural Center
• UCI Ombudman's Office (confidential reporting)
• UCI CARE (confidential reporting)
• UCI Office of the Campus Social Worker
• UCI Counseling Center
• Reporting UCI Police Misconduct Complaints (anonymous reporting available)
• UC Systemwide Reporting of Acts of Intolerance (anonymous reporting available)

Becoming Anti-racist and Related Resources

• Becoming anti-Racist in the Physical Sciences
• Being Antiracist - National Museum of African American History & Culture
• SACNAS
• Black Thriving Initiative

Videos and Recorded Discussions

• Implicit Bias Video Series - UCLA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
• Racial Injustice and the Academy - Judy Tzu-Chun Wu, UCI Professor and Chair of the Department of Asian American Studies
• The Fire Next Time: Anti-Black Racism and the Struggle to Live in the United States | June 4, 2020 - UCI Office of Inclusive Excellence
• The 2%: Navigating UCI as a Black Student - Anteater TV
• The House We Live In (documentary excerpt) 

Reading/Reference List

• Avoiding gender bias in reference writing - Uof A Commission on the Status of Women
• Blacklivesmatter - Resource Guide
• Particles for Justice resource list
• The Long Reach of Racism in the U.S. - The Wall Street Journal 
• Why Are There So Few Black Physicists? - Gizmodo

Resources for Faculty

• UCI’s Commitment to Inclusive Excellence Preamble
• Office of Inclusive Certificate Program for Faculty
• Diversity Resources
• Guidance for Writing Inclusive Excellence Activities Statement
• UCOP Guidelines for The Use of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statements for Academic Positions at the University of California
• Assessing Faculty Contributions to Inclusive Excellence
• DEI Course Design Rubric
• UCI Inclusive Course Design Institute
• Avoiding Microaggressions in Classrooms and Online

LGBTQIA+ Resources

• UCI LGBTRC: 
• NOGLSTP: National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals
• ACS Pride- Subdivision of the American Chemical Society. 
• Cech, Erin A. and Tom J. Waidzunas. (2021). Systemic Inequalities for LGBTQ Professionals in STEM. Science Advances. Follow this link to view a summary by the author.
• Freeman, J.B. (2018 & 2020). LGBTQ scientists are still left out & Measuring and resolving LGBTQ disparities in STEM. Follow this link to view a summary by the author.

Neurodiversity Resources

• Neurodiversity and Science Resource Guide: A resource guide made by neurodivergent scientists for the broader scientific community. Presents and defines basic concepts while answering frequently asked questions about neurodiversity. 
• For official accommodations- DSC
• UCI Neurodiversity Project: Group dedicated to supporting the challenges faced by ASD students in the Physical Sciences. 
• Ask "Job Accomodation Network": Information on accommodations which may assist ASD individuals in working and communicating with DSC and their PIs. 
• Ask "Job Accommodation Network": Information on accommodations which may assist AD/HD individuals in working  and communicating  with DSC and their PIs.

To submit additional resources or page suggestions please email cadennis@uci.edu.