Berkeley Lab is dedicated to integrating workforce diversity with its research culture, and with all aspects of the Laboratory workplace, by providing an environment that is accessible and hospitable to all employees. The Earth Sciences Division (ESD) is committed to supporting the Laboratory’s ongoing workforce diversity efforts.

Goals

• ESD’s primary goal is to create a supportive environment to attract and retain the most qualified applicants and a diverse workforce.
• ESD will foster a work environment that is friendly to all employees, and where no one feels uncomfortable or isolated.
• ESD will create a diverse workforce at all levels in the Division.

Accomplishments in 2004

In addition to a broad and inclusive outreach, recruitment, and retention efforts, the following milestones were accomplished in 2004:

Internships and Special Programs

• The Division hosted two teams of professors and students from the National Science Foundation/Department of Energy (NSF/DOE) Faculty and Student Teams (FAST) Program, whose goals include diversity recruitment. Each team focused on one of the following research areas: Microbial Ecology, Bioremediation, Environmental Biotechnology, and climate change.
• Teachers were also hosted through the Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development (LSTPD ) program.
• The Division hosted nine undergraduate students from the Center for Science and Engineering Education’s (CSEE’s) Summer Internship Program that recruits students from local community colleges. Several were from the Minority Berkeley Biotechnology Collaboration Program.
• ESD also hosted undergraduate female or minority interns through the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) and the Pre-Service Teacher Training Program.

Recruitment

• ESD advertised employment positions at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, which is a good location for recruiting a diverse applicant pool.
• We began publicizing postdoctoral opportunities with faculty at colleges with historically diverse student bodies, such as San Diego State University, University of New Mexico, University of Texas, and Texas Tech University, as well as their department chairpersons.
• The ESD Professional Staff Committee (PSC) is responsible for tracking applicants and new hires from underrepresented groups. The PSC chairperson periodically reports its findings to the ESD Director.
• ESD advertised for participants in its Postbaccalaureate Fellowship program, which is aimed at recent baccalaureates in earth sciences or engineering who are considering advanced degrees. ESD has identified a candidate for fiscal year 2006.

Lab Business and Professional Activities

• Workforce diversity has been integrated into ESD’s core values. ESD workforce diversity issues are always discussed at ESD town-hall meetings, and sometimes at the Division Council and department and program meetings.
• ESD began cooperating with CSEE to create special programs for Women in Science.

Action Items for 2005

To continue the Division’s broad and inclusive outreach, recruitment, and retention efforts, the following specific actions will be taken:

• The ESD Diversity Committee will continue to advise the ESD Director on all matters regarding workforce diversity.
• ESD will seek other forums and groups to discuss workforce diversity issues.
  • In cooperation with CSEE, create special programs for Women in Science. Focus points include junior women becoming scientists through internships, graduate school, or staff positions.
  • Currently exploring ways to start a chapter of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS).
• ESD will actively seek applicants with recent Ph.D.’s from universities that have diverse student bodies to fill postdoctoral and other positions. As a first step to attract more applicants from these institutions, we are publicizing postdoctoral opportunities with faculty colleagues at San Diego State University, the University of New Mexico, the University of Texas, and Texas Tech University, as well as their department chairpersons. In addition, we will establish contacts with the appropriate department chairs at local California State Universities, namely Hayward, San Jose, San Francisco, and Sonoma.
• ESD job openings will be posted on the IMDiversity.com Web site, and others frequented by women and minorities.
• ESD will advertise for participants in its Postbaccalaureate Fellowship program, which is aimed at recent baccalaureates in earth sciences or engineering who are considering advanced degrees. ESD has identified a candidate for fiscal year 2006.
• ESD will develop an implementation plan for high-priority recommendations from the ESD Committee on Women Scientists.
• ESD will provide a second course on improving verbal communication for scientists and support staff whose native language is not English.
• ESD is currently setting up a committee whose charter is to identify and recruit outstanding junior scientists, with an emphasis on minority and women scientists.

For more information about this diversity plan, contact Gudmundur S. Bodvarsson, Earth Sciences Division Director, or Erika Gasperikova , Best Practices Diversity Council Representative.		Download this Diversity Plan in printable .rtf format.