As a lab, we pursue and support each lab member’s constant growth as a scientist. We believe in clearly and carefully communicating questions and building solutions to problems. We refuse to get comfortable but, rather, continually seek out new scientific tools and new opportunities to develop our skills and our ambition. We don’t aim for perfection because the nature of science is to accept that our worldview will change constantly with the acquisition of new knowledge and understanding. We embrace diversity, provide a safe place for testing and developing knowledge, and insist upon mutual respect among all lab members. Our goal is careful, precise science, with the broader aim of informing social and ecological problems.
We collaborate.
- we see all aspects of being scientists and whole humans as skills that we can develop and hone through life-long practice – in this lab we focus on process over product
- we prioritize collaboration and directly address perceived inequity within our group, within our field, and within our society through our research, our teaching, our mentoring, and our speech and actions
- we recognize that growth and learning require respectful critique – we provide timely, constructive, and action-based feedback to all lab members, and all lab members share their work so they have this opportunity to grow
- we understand that synthesis and problem-solving is as important as critique – we offer solutions when we identify problems and we give positive feedback that is as specific and frequent as our criticisms
We support diversity.
- we believe that diverse backgrounds, experiences, and identities are vital to asking the right questions and solving problems – we are committed to recruiting team members from marginalized groups and working towards an academic community that reflects the U.S. population
- we practice non-violent communication and address hurtful communication or actions directly but without blame, offering others the opportunity to grow but protecting ourselves and those around us from toxic interactions
- we acknowledge that the greatest learning is achieved through failure, and forgive ourselves and others for blind spots and mistakes
- we act as allies for each other, our peers, and our students by listening deeply, showing up, and standing with each other during challenges – we always have each other’s backs and give each other the benefit of the doubt
We grow as whole humans.
- we work toward each lab member feeling connected within our community, having autonomy over their work, identifying their greater purpose, and gaining mastery in their chosen area of study
- we believe in integrity and respect for ourselves and others, so communicate expectations and boundaries, are on time and prepared, and maintain clean shared work spaces
- we protect space in our work lives for deep reading, writing, and thinking – curiosity and inspiration are unreliable but are fed by these fundamental practices of learning
- we protect space in our lives away from work for connection with our loved ones, our wellness, and personal growth
- we challenge enculturated morality, hierarchy, busy-ness, scarcity thinking, and distractedness – we acknowledge that live in a culture of comparison and but we do not feed this beast