EDI in Rourke Lab

As members of the Rourke Lab, we commit to fostering a culture of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). 

To us, this means creating a fun, dynamic, and safe workplace environment where all members feel valued, respected, supported, and given a safe space to voice their opinions, work, conduct research, and grow as scientists, and people. As such, racism, sexism, discrimination, and prejudice of any form have no place in our lab. 

Our research group welcomes all people, and we are committed to amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups in STEM; regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and physical ability. Underrepresented groups include, but are not limited to, women, Indigenous peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, and individuals from 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities. We advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion within our lab, department, the University, and academia as a whole, and we are actively working to improve our knowledge about EDI and accountability practices. 

We have a zero-tolerance policy for any form of harassment, discrimination, or bullying. Any incidents will be promptly addressed, per reporting procedures.

1. Actively engaging in EDI-related discourse and training opportunities provided by the University; 

2. Using language that is inclusive and respectful when speaking with other lab members and in academic settings; 

3. Remaining open-minded and judgement-free when listening to lab member’s perspectives, questions, and comments; 

4. Committing to self-learning regarding EDI, and how to be an ally to underrepresented groups in academia. As such, once per academic term Rourke lab group meetings will include an educational component on EDI issues; 

5. Committing to active self-reflection and group accountability as an ongoing process; 

6. Committing to reference literature based on quality and relevance, not prestige or publication bias. Our lab values diverse scholarly voices and resists systemic inequities in publishing by prioritizing excellence over exclusion; 

7. Continuously improving accessibility in the lab to ensure that facilities and resources are accessible to all lab members. This involves regular check-ins with Dr. Rourke to ensure that our physical space, equipment and resources meet diverse needs of everyone working in the lab; 

8. Committing to inclusive research design goals where possible, ensuring that our research design and findings consider sex and gender at all stages and are applicable and accessible to diverse populations; 

9. Re-evaluating this document on an annual basis; and 

10. Including land acknowledgements in oral presentations, written materials, and on the Rourke lab website: We respectfully acknowledge that the Rourke lab, and the experiences within it, take place on the unceded traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq Peoples.