The Department of Molecular Metabolism - Diversity and Inclusion

Faculty Diversity and Inclusion Statements

We are MET and stand together to actualize change within our department and research community

Racism is based in culture and beliefs, not science, and has no place in our scientific community. \nWe are dedicated to excellence in everything we produce, and it is vital that this be grounded on a foundation of mutual respect, integrity, and shared values of fairness. \n\nWe are each accountable for implementing anti-racist policies in our workplace, and to fostering a culture of progress by celebrating diverse and creative talent. I will do my best to work toward these goals.

Our lab's mission is defined by a search for fundamental scientific truth to serve the benefit of all humans. It is this truth to serve the benefit of all humans. It is this search that guides our pursuit of scientific endeavors, where truth reveals itself, in its full an exciting magnitude, only when observed and accepted without preconceived notions. Our community is also at its best, only when all cultural and racial backgrounds gather, as they are, and join their unique experiences and perspectives to serve the common goal of advancing science and healing the suffering of humans. Our lab is nothing without the brilliant minds that compose it, and nothing without having an environment for these minds to exist in liberty and safety to express their individual identity, come together freely in open collaboration and harmonize in an inclusive manner to learn, celebrate and enjoy human diversity. Science gives us the great privilege of transcending all other divisive constructions and stand united for the betterment of human experience.

As an Asian in the current pandemic, it is hard not to notice that racism exists in this country, even at the highest level. But the multiple murders of black people recently still shocks me. racism is not only real, it is brutal and widespread. Though a non-black person, I am fully aware that the systemic racism against one group of people can and will morph into discrimination against any group of people, if we do not actively combat it. One step we can take is to advocate for a diverse and inclusive environment in our own community, to provide the underrepresented minorities with opportunities for success. We have a lot of room to improve in this regard in our department and in our school, and even in my lab. I will work consciously to build a diverse and inclusive lab and contribute to fostering such an environment in our department and school.

We live in a world in which people don't have equal opportunities. It is sad and shocking that so many people in science and society are still affected by racism, treated unfairly and made to feel like they don't belong. This issue needs our immediate attention and action. To further educate myself I am reading relevant literature and am part of the MET D&I committee to identify ways to implement change. As a member of MET I am committed to an inclusive racial climate in the department and I will do my best to speak out against discrimination, injustice and inequality. I will discuss racism and discrimination at my lab meetings, practice inclusive and anti-racist communication and reflect on my own implicit biases (i.e. in hiring decisions) to create a diverse and inclusive lab environment. I am available for discussion, will listen to criticism and look to implement change. - Nora Kory

Scientific innovation comes from great minds of different cultural and racial backgrounds. Like an image of a multi-color cell/tissue immunostaining, diversity in science is an integral part of an interesting, major discovery. Talent knows no boundaries. We need to create an environment tha tis built on respect and inclusion and free of cultural biases, racism and inequity.

As we have all watched in horror at the murder of George Floyd and the brutal response to peaceful protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, what has been poignant to me is the shift in our thinking that we must convert into real action. A shift from the idea that it's enough to be an ally and support diversity yet be passive, to a broader awareness that actively fighting anti-black racism in all its forms is not the responsibility of those most oppressed, but of all of us if we want to breakdown the systemis oppression in our society. Beyond protests and donations, I am passionate to use what influence and privilege I have in local settings - academia, MET and Harvard - to demand and facilitate proactive, tangible change. To me this is not only achieving a more diverse community in MET and accepting our currently failings, but working together to create a less hierarchical and more inclusive environment, where everyone feels valued, able to bring their full self to work, and safe. It is always easy to say we are all busy, but if we educate ourselves to understand the critical value diversity in science brings both to us and to future generations, this mission will become a priority for all. I am excited to see us transform our department into a shining example of what real diversity, inclusion and belonging in academic science can look like.

"We may not have chosen the time, but the time has chosen us." - John Lewis. Tragedy and appalling displays of cruelty and injustice have a way of jolting us awake from our relatively tranquil lives. This is particularly true for those of us who have lived a privileged existence, prompting an awakening to the advantages afforded to us by the mere color of our skin. It is these moments that break our naive inertia and set us into motion. It is now our obligation to sustain this momentum by calling out the many obstacles to equality and fairness that permeate our society and profession, and engaging in activities to dismantle these barriers. I stand against racism and bigotry and for inclusivity and belonging. I pledge to fight for awareness and action, and to resist and vanquish racist structures, attitudes, and policies ingrained at every level of our society, institutes of education, and science. In this time, I will use my position of privilege to help overcome the stiflingly narrow perception of what a scientist should look like and to make being a scientist a more desirable and attainable goal for those vastly underrepresented in our community.

Racism and discrimination have no place in our society and community and I am committed to do whatever necessary to eliminate it. Growing up German, I have met the people, seen the sites and studied some of the worst consequences of white supremacy - the Shoah. From this history, I feel a particular personal responsibility to combat discrimination at every level. It is disheartening to see every day how many systemic problems of racism (and other forms of discrimination) we are still experiencing in the United States. But also, I am relieved that we are increasing our awareness of racism and that our community pledges support and effort to a sustained transformation overcoming racism. I will do what I can to build a community where members of any race, national origin, gender, religious belief, sexual orientation and age will be welcome, included and feel they belong here, together. It will not be easy, it might take a while, but I am confident we can do this, and it starts here and now!