June 19th, 2020

We are fortunate to spend our time exploring the beauty and mystery of the natural world. We want to live in a world where all people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious belief, have equal access and opportunity to experience the same joy that we do. Yet, the data clearly show that we live in a system which disproportionately favors some groups over others. For example, the figure below shows that white people earn the vast majority of Ocean Sciences doctoral degrees in the US. This picture differs drastically from the demographics of America, where non-whites together make-up about 40% of the population (U.S. census).

We recognize that systems of oppression and exclusion are subtle yet pervasive. We strive to live in a world which duly recognizes and fights against the historical and contemporary systems underlying the unfair society we live in. We pledge to recognize the contributions of Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), through our own education and research. We strive to establish a culture in which all feel welcome, including LGBQT+, and those with mental and physical disabilities. We commit to understanding the unconscious ways prejudice pervades our working lives, and we commit to fighting for a world in which opportunity is for all, and not a select few.