Creating Awareness

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion are important aspects that, besides excellent research, are in the focus of ML4Q – and of course of all participating institutions. In addition to specific measures, however, it is equally important to raise awareness of the fact that our reality, as progressive and globalized as we perceive it to be, is still characterized by prejudices and stereotypes, inequalities and, especially for members of historically marginalized groups, more difficult access to resources.

Diversity 101

On the 1st Thursday of every month (aka “Trivia Thursday”), a new term from the EDI cosmos is briefly and clearly explained in Diversity 101. The goal is not only to explain the most important terms and abbreviations, but also to contribute to reflecting on one’s own – possibly very privileged – life circumstances, to question mechanisms and structures and to get into an exchange with each other that overcomes possible boundaries.

Integrating EDI into the cluster’s everyday life

Further, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion cannot be seen in isolation from our everyday lives as members and associated members of ML4Q. They intersect every part of what makes the cluster what it is: a place where diverse people come together to perform excellent research. EDI does not happen incidentally in ML4Q, but is directly and naturally integrated into the cluster’s everyday life: for example, contributions, such as those on International Women’s Day, are prominently placed on the website, newsletters on selected topics are sent to all members and associated members, and diversity is given equal focus alongside cluster-relevant presentations in a dedicated scientific talk at the ML4Q Conference 2023. In addition, ML4Q actively participates in projects that promote the visibility of females in research or help to attract girls to physics.

In the EDI cosmos there are many useful tools, information and possibilities to reflect yourself and your own life situation. Here you will find a collection of links that is constantly being expanded.

Inclusive Language Guidelines
Harvard Implicit Association Test
Gender Decoder

Events

In addition to events organised by partner universities/institutions, which ML4Q promotes, the cluster is establishing a new event format: Inside academia. Within the framework of this format, talks, networking and information events and activities for specific target groups will take place, focussing mainly on non-academic aspects of the scientific environment. The aim is to create awareness of various challenges and inequalities within the scientific system, to provide opportunities for networking within different target groups, but also to create space for discussions and dialogue.
Basically, Inside academia is an internal cluster format; selected events will also be made accessible to external interested people.