Add DEIA Statement

[admercs]

Regarding inclusion, suggesting to "decolonize science" can easily be interpreted as an intentional effort to reduce the participation of (i.e., exclude) people of European descent. I would suggest that we refrain from using such emotive language and promote welcoming people regardless of their background. Thank you!

[EstherPlomp]

I'm not sure where this statement is located but I think it would be great to keep decolonisation or anti-racism in the statement. I think that this is a strong signal that the community is indeed inclusive and this is not discriminating the participation of white people. Perhaps a link to a learning resource can be included to avoid misinterpretation of this language, which would be a great way for people to educate themselves about these topics!

[yochannah]

+1 to Esther's statement here.

Open to all regardless of background sounds great at face value, but it's important to recognise that we all start from difference places and with different levels of privilege.

Europeans and people of European descent (such as myself) have a huge foot forwards thanks to the colonial history of our ancestors and ongoing colonial behaviours. Recognising it, and acting to reduce unfair disparity, is an important part of truly open research.

[admercs]

Greetings Colleagues,

I will try to reply to what I see as the key points of each statement.

Open to all regardless of background sounds great at face value, but it's important to recognise that we all start from difference places and with different levels of privilege.

Absolutely, although making sweeping assumptions about people based on their identity (nationality, ethnicity, gender, ...) is by definition prejudice, thus creating the very problem that DEIA claims to address. Phrases such as this, despite their noble name, are often interpreted as thinly veiled political intolerance, used to exclude people based on ideology or group-based assumptions of privilege or wrongdoing. Similar reasoning was used to justify atrocities in the 20th century at the cost of millions of lives. I think we all agree that not repeating these events should be a top priority for humanity, hence why intolerance is bad for us all.

Perhaps a link to a learning resource can be included to avoid misinterpretation of this language, which would be a great way for people to educate themselves about these topics!

Indeed, I would also encourage everyone to learn about the truly global history of scientific achievement and human technological progress, including ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, et cetera, and the ongoing rapid rise of China to the upper echelon of science. Publicly shaming Europeans seems a bit 20th century in the present context. We live in a different era.

While we each hold our own views as unique individuals, science and the pursuit of truth unite us all. My respect to you. May we come together as one to achieve great things for humanity.

[ha0ye]

I admit that I am also against "decolonize science" here, but for entirely different reasons--I simply cannot take that statement at face value from a NASA project. A number of NASA projects and other efforts in astro/planetary science are still colonial in nature, whether that is the Thirty Meter Telescope in Hawaii, nationalistic efforts in mining/establishments off-Earth, etc.

I'd prefer language that is consciously positive about specific ways in which NASA intends to be inclusive and ensuring scientific advances, communities, etc. are open to everyone. Unless there are efforts at material reparations, I find language around "decolonizing" to be performative.

I can also guess that language might be determined at a level above the TOPS program, so I'll probably pick my battles elsewhere for now.

[EstherPlomp]

I'm glad we agree that we do not want to discriminate and want to provide an inclusive environment for people to contribute. To facilitate this, it is important to acknowledge the fact that white people have been the recipients of unfair advantages for centuries and continue to be so today (as Yo already stated). Acknowledging this fact in a DEIA statement is not discrimination, and there is little evidence for this reverse racism that is being suggested (see Ansell (2013). Race and Ethnicity: The Key Concepts; Garner (2017). Racisms: An Introduction (2nd ed.); Spanierman & Cabrera(2014). "The Emotions of White Racism and Antiracism". In Watson, V.; Howard-Wagner, D.; Spanierman, L. (eds.). Unveiling Whiteness in the Twenty-First Century: Global Manifestations, Transdisciplinary Interventions.)

I agree with everything said by @ha0ye above.

It would be helpful to have a link to the statement to properly evaluate the language that is being used!

[admercs]

Fascinating to hear both your perspectives. I personally do not believe NASA is engaged in anything remotely colonial in nature (in the pejorative sense), but rather the exploration and potential habitation of new worlds to the benefit of humanity. For better or worse, all of our ancestors once explored and colonized the Earth. By any measure of objectivity, that is not unique to Europeans, nor have Europeans always existed.

By "white people" I assume you mean people of European descent, as nobody is white, black, yellow, or red. I hope we can agree that these are broadly unscientific terms that many consider offensive. Indeed, it is by definition prejudice to make judgments about individuals based on their group classification (definition: "preconceived judgment or opinion"). To single out people of European descent, or any group, fits that definition by any reasonable interpretation. I personally find this to be divisive or exclusive language that is unnecessary and counterproductive. Even the term "reverse racism" implies that Europeans are the racists (i.e., "forward racism"). That is demonstrably false. Intolerance is an unfortunate reality we must all face.

I hope that we can leave any perceived differences aside and instead focus on our common humanity and passion for science. A diversity of opinions, and the freedom to express them, are of benefit to all.