We have developed a time- and cost-effective strategy aimed at increasing awareness of DEIR and safety issues within our graduate program. Using a brief portion of time (up to 10 min) at the commencement of each weekly departmental colloquium event, graduate students under faculty guidance develop topics of interest related to the above areas to deliver what are deemed Safety, Inclusivity & Diversity Talks, a.k.a., “SID Talks”. This is a student-engaged process that is intended to increase and facilitate collegial conversations on these topics leading, ultimately, to a departmental culture and climate change. SID Talks are easily adaptable to any departmental need or situation and have had a positive impact on our program as evidenced by increased overall graduate student awareness of issues, and a stated desire to learn more on certain topics. When surveyed, a majority of graduate students found SID Talks to be a meaningful addition to our program; this attitude is also held by the faculty of the department. The development of the SID Talk concept and its integration into our program and departmental culture will be described along with an assessment of their impact and future possibilities.

Increasing safety and DEIR awareness in a graduate program: “Safety, inclusivity & diversity talks” (“SID Talks”) as part of a colloquium series

ACS Spring 2022

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