Our DEI Approach
Our lab is guided by "Ten simple rules to building an anti-racist lab" by Dr. Bala Chaudhary and Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe. Among the reading lists and resources we stand behind are the Decolonize science reading list by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, the Equity reading list by Dr. Needhi Bhalla, the Liberatory design mindset, and the "Response to 10 common criticisms of anti-racism action in STEM". We also talk through papers shared by @EEB_POC.
Selected Writing by Dr. Romero-Olivares
Dr. Romero-Olivares has contributed writing on equity and inclusion across several outlets, including: "Los hongos y el cambio climático" for the Revista de la Universidad de México; "What will it take to decolonize ecology?", written with Dr. Kashwan; and "It's past time to treat international students as more than just money makers for universities", which notes that while the #StudentBan is not a threat right now, the shortcomings it exposed remain. After growing tired of hearing "Women supervisors are abusive and obsessed with their careers", she wrote for SISTER about how "Sexism shapes the way we think about women supervisors in STEM". She also wrote about moving from postdoc to PI and the role privilege played in that transition, featured on The Xylom; about how peer-review as currently practiced disproportionately harms minoritized people in STEM, offering her personal view on improving the system; and, as chair of the MSA Diversity & Inclusion Committee, worked with colleague Danny Haelewaters on a piece examining the challenges LGBT+ people face during fieldwork. For inclusive science we must "Review with Care", and she shared her working life story with Science Magazine. Colonization practices in ecology are a problem, and she discusses what colonization looks like in ecology and how we can "Decolonize ecology for socially just science", featured in Science Connected Magazine. Additional pieces include The Professor Is In => "The power of privilege, a Mexican ecologist in academia in the USA" and #MakeUpMonday The Professor Is In => "Unapologetically "Too Ethnic" for STEM (and on a budget)".
Frequently Asked Questions
Which DEI framework guides the lab?
The lab is guided by "Ten simple rules to building an anti-racist lab" by Dr. Bala Chaudhary and Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, as outlined at the top of this page.
What reading lists and resources does the lab stand behind?
The lab stands behind the Decolonize science reading list by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, the Equity reading list by Dr. Needhi Bhalla, the Liberatory design mindset, and the "Response to 10 common criticisms of anti-racism action in STEM" document.
How does DEI show up in the lab's regular activities?
The lab discusses papers retweeted by @EEB_POC, and more information on that initiative is available through the linked article.
Which topics has Dr. Romero-Olivares written about?
The writing contributions listed on this page cover fungi and climate change, decolonizing ecology, the value of international students in academia, and sexism and perceptions of women supervisors.
Building an anti-racist lab is ongoing work rather than a one-time step. Alongside the reading lists and writing shared here, the lab keeps these conversations active through regular discussion of current papers and resources, so that equity and inclusion stay part of everyday research practice.