Ethics Statements

A few thoughts on some important topics

Equity, diversity, and inclusion

Academia would present itself as a merit-based community for the exchange of diverse, new, and evolving ideas. Unfortunately, academia is not immune to the systemic obstacles and personal biases that pervade society at large. Inequities, from recruitment to retention, distort how academia reflects the communities that surround it and underrepresents marginalized groups (i.e., historically or presently oppressed, exploited, and disadvantaged). Ethically, the imperative to reduce these harms is self-evident. However, ‘practically’ there are many benefits to building an equitable, diverse, and inclusive academic system. Science is a communal effort that thrives on the generation of new ideas and integration of multiple perspectives. We need diverse viewpoints and voices. On an individual basis, a baseline we can all work from is to (i) be open to learning and updating our personal perspectives, (ii) fostering inclusive environments, and (iii) engaging with EDI as formal aspect of an academic role.

My current institute is housed on the UBC Point Gray (Vancouver) campus that is on the unceded and colonized land of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) people. Although much work remains, there are some small university initiatives to better connect UBC academics and the indigenous communities connected to the land that the campus covers and neighbors.

Use of LLMs and ‘artificial intelligence’ chatbots

I have used ‘AI’ in only a limited capacity, but am open to carefully exploring where and when to apply it. Any of my published work that may eventually use AI in a substantive way will be acknowledged and all collaborators will be consulted beforehand. Thus far, I have yet to ever use AI tools to change my writing or stand in for my own scientific thinking. Rather, for example, I had it draft up html code for the Career Map page on this website (for which I learned just enough html to modify to my needs after). I’m open to learning more to smartly use, but not overly rely upon, this emerging technology. For now I treat it like a well-meaning and hard-working assistant, rather than an expert collaborator. If only it could also go pick up coffee too.

Accessible science

I do my best to publish open access (and hustle small funding awards when needed to do so) and ensure my data are accessible on proper repositories. For publications that I am a corresponding author, I have private backups and can share as needed as well. I like society journals, by researchers for researchers, but do publish with the big companies as a matter of practicality.