Program

Diversity and Inclusion

The Biological Sciences Division (BSD) strives to create an environment that welcomes and promotes diversity of thought and experience as essential features for advancing human knowledge and enabling transformative education. Authentic engagement with people whose views and paths differ from our own allows us to challenge assumptions and generate the most impactful, field-defining research and healthcare delivery. An academic climate that is diverse and inclusive promotes rigorous inquiry through encouraging critical examination of assumptions, often the first step toward breakthrough discoveries and treatments.

The BSD is committed to encouraging a multiplicity of voices, as this is foundational to free expression and academic freedom. This culture of free expression exists across academic, research, and clinical settings that includes people of many different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion strengthens the BSD’s distinctive intellectual character and supports our Elevate 2035 strategic plan for continual growth as a leading research and healthcare delivery organization anchored on the South Side of Chicago. This culture deepens our ability to connect with and positively impact communities locally, nationally, and globally.

We are committed to nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment through the following initiatives in our program:

  • Inclusivity training:

We incorporate inclusivity training for students and faculty into the annual GPMP retreat, prior to the beginning of each academic year.

  • Holistic admissions:

We regularly review our admissions process to ensure holistic evaluations of applicants’ potential. 

  • Book/podcast club:

Students and faculty participate in a quarterly book/podcast club through which we engage in honest discussions on social and racial justice, academic resilience, retention, and inclusivity. 

Previous books and podcasts:

  1. Whistling Vivaldi (Claude Steele)
  2. Thinking, Fast and Slow (Daniel Kahneman)
  3. Superior: The Return of Race Science (Angela Saini)
  4. Nice White Parents (The New York Times)
  5. How to be an Antiracist (Ibram X. Kendi)
  6. The South Side (Natalie Y. Moore)
  7. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot)

Future podcasts:

  1. The NIH Resilience podcast series
  • Marie Curie Lecture:

Our annual lecture in medical physics highlights outstanding researchers who can also provide a unique perspective. After a campus tour and a faculty meet & greet, the speaker leads a diversity focused discussion over lunch with faculty and students, then gives a research lecture. 

Previous speakers:

  1. Dr. Tyrone Porter (Nov 2022)
  2. Dr. Roderic Pettigrew (Nov 2021)
  3. Dr. Stephen Avery (Nov 2020)
  4. Dr. Angelica Perez-Andujar (April 2019)
  5. Dr. Julianne Pollard-Larkin (2018)
  • South Side outreach:

We participate in physics-focused community outreach with an intentional focus on our local South Side community.

  1. South Side Science Festival (September 2022)
  2. Physics with a Bang (2020)
  3. Individual tutoring children from underserved communities
  • Chicago Public Schools (CPS) outreach:

We have partnered with southeast region Instructional Support Leaders (ISL) within CPS to open research and mentorship opportunities and help with science curriculum development.

  • Volunteering:

We engage in individual and group volunteer opportunities provided through the University of Chicago. Opportunities have included group volunteering at the Greater Chicago Food Depository and individual tutoring at the Carole Robertson Center for Learning.

  1. Broader Impacts Fair
  2. UChicago Outreach
  3. BSD Dean's Council