Our commitment

The Department of the Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago aspires to foster an environment where individuals from all backgrounds can grow and become the unique scientists they wish to be. We value diverse voices, backgrounds, and experiences in our community, and we are committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive environment within which scientists from diverse backgrounds can thrive. 

We recognize that long-standing barriers and biases have resulted in the exclusion of many people from the geosciences, and that diversity in the geosciences is among the lowest of all STEM fields[1]. A recent campus climate survey at the University of Chicago revealed many equity, diversity and inclusion issues within our own campus community[2]. To combat this, we are working to advance goals such as increasing opportunities in the geosciences for underrepresented groups, cultivating an inclusive environment for all members of our community, educating our community about anti-racism, and engaging with neighboring citizens on Chicago’s south side.

 

[1] Bernard, Rachel E., and Emily HG Cooperdock. "No progress on diversity in 40 years." Nature Geoscience 11, no. 5 (2018): 292-295.

[2] Campus Climate Survey 2016

PhD Program Data for individual graduate programs, including Geophysical Sciences, can be found here: PhD Program Data - Office of the Provost