Diversity

             

INSTAAR is committed to building an inclusive, actively antiracist institute where people of all identities are welcome, safe, and supported, especially those from groups historically excluded from science and academia.

Poster for INSTAAR stating that climate change is real, love is love, black lives matter, feminism is for everyone, earth sustains us, and immigrants are vital.  Modified from SammyKatta.com/diversity

We aim to create an environment where individuals feel safe, heard, and encouraged to be themselves, and where all INSTAAR members understand their important roles in our anti-racism plan. We are working to dismantle systemic biases within our institute and within our larger institutional and scientific contexts, align the demographics of INSTAAR with those of our state and nation, and reduce barriers to living in Boulder and conducting scientific research at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Our actions 

 

 

JEDI Task Force

The INSTAAR Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Task Force helps INSTAAR take action on equity and inclusion within the institute. It is the largest and most inclusive committee in INSTAAR’s history. Currently there are about 35 INSTAAR participants, including staff, students, professional research assistants (PRAs), postdoctoral scholars, and faculty.

Membership

Membership in the Task Force is voluntary. Calls for membership are sent via email at the beginning of each semester. If you are interested in joiningemail instaarit@colorado.edu. If you want to recieve calendar invites for JEDI Task Force meetings, email Julio Sepúlveda.

Leadership

Julio Sepúlveda
 

Julio Sepúlveda
Associate Director of JEDI

Sarah Elmendorf
 

Sarah Elmendorf
Awards & fellowships

 

 

Diversity news

More diversity news

Land acknowledgement

The University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado’s flagship university, honors and recognizes the many contributions of Indigenous peoples in our state.

CU Boulder acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, Ute and many other Native American nations. Their forced removal from these territories has caused devastating and lasting impacts. While the University of Colorado Boulder can never undo or rectify the devastation wrought on Indigenous peoples, we commit to improving and enhancing engagement with Indigenous peoples and issues locally and globally.

 We will do this by:

  • Recognizing and amplifying the voices of Indigenous CU Boulder students, staff and faculty and their work. 
  • Educating, conducting research, supporting student success and integrating Indigenous knowledge.
  • Consulting, engaging and working collaboratively with tribal nations to enhance our ability to provide access and culturally sensitive support and to recruit, retain and graduate Native American students in a climate that is inclusive and respectful.

CU Boulder acknowledgment info & resources

Sarah Crump Graduate Fellowship 

Thanks to the efforts of Sarah's family and 1200+ generous donors, we met our first funding goal in May 2023 and created an endowment that supports a CU Boulder grad student every summer. Sarah's summer fellowship gives a boost to their study of Earth or environmental science in Arctic, Antarctic, or alpine regions. It also acts as a lever for equity and underserved communities. Our next goal is to extend summer support into the school year. Please consider contributing.

Learn about Sarah & her fellowship   

INSTAAR diversity events

Campus diversity events