Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Photo of team retreat

Group photo of IRIS-HEP team during the annual retreat at Fermilab in November 2019

The Institute for Research and Innovation in Software for High Energy Physics (IRIS-HEP) is a center for software R&D, functions as an intellectual hub for the larger community-wide software R&D efforts, and aims to transform the operational services required to ensure the success of the HL-LHC scientific program. It is a software institute funded by the National Science Foundation.

IRIS-HEP is committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone from all backgrounds not limited to political views, religion, national or ethnic origin, race, color, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, research discipline, history of conviction or incarceration, socioeconomic status, and educational history. The entire team strives to create an environment that makes interactions and collaborations enjoyable and fulfilling while eliminating discrimination, harassment, exploitation, and intimidation.

We expect the entire IRIS-HEP team to promote the following best practices with regard to diversity, equity, and inclusion:

  • Affirm that promoting diversity must be consistent, ongoing, and is an active process that requires engagement;
  • Promote awareness of perspectives that may have been previously inaccessible (or less prominent) to groups traditionally represented in scientific research environments;
  • Believe that diversification requires cultural, experiential, and ideological representation as well as increasing the number of researchers and staff from underrepresented groups; and
  • Aim to foster an environment where all perspectives are valued because they serve to advance the Institute’s academic excellence and intellectual capacity, and will contribute to a more productive and respectful professional environment.

IRIS-HEP will seek opportunities for education and training on diversity, inclusivity, reporting, and bystander intervention techniques. There is a plan to offer a DEI workshop in the coming months which will be facilitated by Princeton University.