Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, and Inclusion

Our core mission is education. Not just in terms of chemistry as a science, but also in terms of training future professionals who respect each other and recognize the strength that diversity brings to furthering discovery.

This page aims to raise awareness about our diverse academic community, provide tools to make us better allies and mentors, empower our future graduates, and promote success across all groups studying chemistry at the University of Waterloo.

Our Territorial Acknowledgement

The University of Waterloo and the Department of Chemistry acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is centralized within our Indigenous Initiatives Office.

Featured this month

#EmbraceEquity2023 International Women's Day High Tea Social 
Hosted by the Faculty of Science

Once again, the Faculty of Science is thrilled to present our annual High Tea Social, celebrating International Women's Day.

Grab your favourite afternoon drink, cozy up in your favourite chair and spend an hour with some truly inspirational women. Whether you'd like to just listen, or engage over text in the online chat forum, this virtual high tea social will be a lively commentary and round-table discussion.

Join our panel of Waterloo alumni who want to share and discuss International Women's Day, and the importance of equity in the workplace, society and at home.  Around the world, women are identifying intentional and unintentional barriers to obtaining equity and making adjustments to combat those imbalances. Come hear the stories, share your own stories and celebrate how women Embrace Equity.

This event will be held Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 3 pm ET over Zoom.

Resources

Training and FAQs

Science Indigenous Initiatives: The Faculty of Science is the first faculty at the University of Waterloo to have an embedded Indigenous Initiatives Office. Learn more about current initiatives and resources on campus.

Science Anti-Racism Taskforce (SART) includes frequently asked questions about racism on campus and a survey.

University of Waterloo Inclusive Communications Guide. Developed by more than 30 dedicated and caring communicators, this guide serves to provide advice on ways to make professional communications at UW more inclusive.

HART Book Club: The HART Book Club, launched in February 2022, is a student-focused space to discuss books related to and written by racialized people. It meets 2-3 times per term. 

PART reading list: a list of 12 must-read books for all compiled by members of the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART)

UW Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism

Resources & Allyship | Office of Indigenous Relations, including a "Did you know?" learning section.

UW Black Faculty Collective resources, including academic resources, training and allyship links.

Beyond Waterloo

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC): Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations at each stage of the research process. Interested in a virtual workshop on “How to develop an effective #EDI Action Plan”? Details and registration.

Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC): Canadians Working for Inclusivity in Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Network promotes inclusivity, equity and diversity for women and minorities in the chemical sciences across Canada

Job postings, networks, directories, and scholarships

Office of Indigenous Relations: a comprehensive list of Bursaries, Awards and Scholarships for Black and Indigenous students. Graduate and undergraduate awards listed.

Articles of interest

Chemistry course corrections tackle bias (Nature, March 6, 2023)

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: The hidden toll of community outreach (Nature, December 1, 2022)

Why corporate diversity statements are backfiring — Podcast (The Conversation, November 30, 2022)

For all the cheerleading, science still has an equity problem (Toronto Star, July 2022

Celebrate Black History Month by Learning About the Achievements of Black Chemists (ACS Axial, Feb 2022)

Our ancestors were scientists: How an Anishnaabe chemist injects elder knowledge into STEM classes (CTV News,  June 15, 2021)

7 Indigenous People in STEM You Should Know (Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology, June 8, 2021)

Meet the Amazing Women of Chemistry (C&EN, 2021)

Upcoming events

March 15-17th - Black@Waterloo: Black Film Festival 

Of note on campus

Office of Indigenous Relations publishes the Winter 2023 edition of Indigenous Connections

Waterloo sponsors International Women's Day activities

PART publishes Issue 20 of The Catalyst Anti-racism Newsletter

University Relations publishes the UW Inclusive Communications Guide

Days of Significance this term

May 5th - National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples (MMIWG2SLGBTQQIA+)

Month of June - National Indigenous History Month

June 21st - National Indigenous People's Day

July 10th - Huron Tract Treaty of 1827 Anniversary

August 9th - International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Learn more - Office of Indigenous Relations