Diversity + Inclusion

The IU History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine department is a community of diverse academic scholars, students, and staff from a wide range of cultures, nationalities, races, and social backgrounds. We are committed to celebrating diversity and inclusion as well as maintaining a culture of respect and kindness. These fundamental values further strengthen the intellectual diversity and core goals we have as scholars, educators and students.

We affirm this commitment by promoting a welcoming and safe workplace, increasing representation of underrepresented groups in all facets of our department, and vigorously responding to intolerant behaviors or actions. We communicate with respect, encourage discussion, support those who feel marginalized, and promote diversity initiatives from every level of the university. Our goal is to build upon our strengths by encouraging an even more inclusive scholarly community and collaborative environment in which all members are empowered and supported.

Why support diversity in HPSC? Fundamentally, the reason to be inclusive of more women and minorities of all kinds in HPSC is for the intellectual benefit of HPSC! Please see excerpts of Kenneth Gibbs’ detailed argument in Scientific American for this position, given in terms of STEM fields, at the end of this document.

Our statement of values + diversity

This statement of values is intended to promote the core educational and research missions of the HPSC department in a way that is respectful of all members of our scholarly community including faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, office staff, and guests.

Here “professional interactions” includes all professional settings, including classrooms, offices, other communal spaces, meetings, reading groups, colloquia, receptions, and department-sponsored meals. It also includes certain social settings, such as drinks with a speaker after a talk, events arranged by a social coordinator in the performance of that role, and in someone’s home if they are hosting department guests. While this statement of values addresses behavior in specifically professional settings, it is equally important that conduct in private settings not interfere with anyone’s ability to participate appropriately in departmental events or impede anyone’s professional growth and success. Of course, university policies and legal guidelines, such as those prohibiting discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual assault, apply in all settings, both professional and private.