Berkeley Lab

Current IDEA Working Groups

To drive outcomes and progress towards our 2022-2025 IDEA strategic priorities, the following working groups have been formed reporting to the IDEA office and SLC:

IDEA In Research Working Group

Goal: Organize scientific research practices, processes, and organizations to actively center IDEA principles

Mandate: 

  • Align on/confirm LBNL institutional definitions for “D&I in research,” “accessibility in research,” and “equity in research”.
  • Create framework & associated resource(s) to integrate disparate DOE guidance & LBNL activities and practices related to IDEA in research.
  • Equip researchers with LBNL-endorsed restorative justice and transformational/participatory relationship-building principles & frameworks & strategies AND names of advisors and community points of contact, to increase likelihood of success in building inclusive research teams/collaborations AND engaging with EJ community partners and other groups representing historically marginalized and/or disadvantaged communities (DACs)

Co-Chairs: Kristin Balder-Froid (Strategic Partnerships Office) & Aditi Chakravarty (IDEA)

Sponsor: Carol Burns

Contact: IDEA Office, idea@lbl.gov

Lab Ambassador Working Group

Goal: To make strategic, concerted efforts to engage talent from diverse backgrounds and perspectives at conferences, events, institutions, panels, etc., where Berkeley Lab had not traditionally sourced talent.

Mandate: 

  • To expand Lab-wide adoption and deepen the impact of the Lab Ambassadors Program and align it to the Lab’s broader, results-oriented strategy.
  • Drive greater adoption and to enhance the impact and effectiveness of Berkeley Lab’s Ambassador Program.

 Sponsors: Therese Leone & Paul Adams

Contact: IDEA Office, idea@lbl.gov

IDEA Mentoring Working Group

Goal: IDEA Mentoring Group is a new initiative driven by a cross-divisional and cross-functional group of passionate advocates for mentorship to pilot impactful lab-wide events and resources related to mentoring.

Mandate: 

  • Design & pilot Just-In-Time LAB-WIDE mentoring event series; Prioritize innovative mentorship formats that create avenues for cross-pollination from across the Lab.
  • Produce research-based best-practice guidelines for existing mentorship programs grounded in stewardship values; Consult external experts & researchers on most effective mentorship practices + identify key gaps that exist within Area and Divisional programs
  • Create simple configurable toolkit for divisions & areas that would like to stand up their own mentoring program

 Sponsors: Mary Ann Piette & Jonathan Carter

Contact: IDEA Office, idea@lbl.gov

Past IDEA Working Groups

Culture Working Group

Objective: Take responsibility for making progress in IDEA
Goal: Develop and deploy IDEA learning campaign for personal and institutional accountability; scale IDEA awareness and culture change

Charge:

  • Education: Understand elements of IDEA learning campaign, including timeline, toolkits, and resources.
  • Labwide Impact: Partner with DEI Office and HR to determine and implement ideas for promoting learning, personal accountability, and culture change across the organization. Determine how to measure impact.
  • Local Impact: Determine opportunities to encourage Area and Division dialogue for local impact, including local goals if applicable. Partner with DEI Chairs Council Area representatives to develop plan for those Areas/Divisions. Determine how to measure impact.

Contact: DEI Office, idea@lbl.gov

Onboarding Working Group

Objective: Improve our culture of belonging and community
Goal: Strengthen onboarding process to enhance new employee experience

Charge:

  • Education: Understand work done by HR and external consultant to review current process.
  • Content: Create content for launching new onboarding program. Create content in FY20, and launch program in FY21.

Contact: Rachel Carl, Human Resources, rscarl@lbl.gov

Diversity Working Group

Objective: Improve our under-representation in Lab demographics
Goal: Assess Lab’s under-representation of demographic populations, per the Lab’s Affirmative Action Plan – connect to external partnerships, outreach, and sourcing strategy.

Charge:

  • Education: Understand underrepresented demographic data with largest gaps (data governance), become familiar with Affirmative Action Plan, and understand opportunities to narrow those gaps.
  • Lab Strategy Execution: Partner with HR and DEI Office to assist in executing action plan for FY20, specifically outreach targets.
  • Local Engagement: Partner with HR to target and encourage specific Areas and Divisions; determine how they can contribute to the Lab’s goals; create local action plans as appropriate.

Please note that the FY20 working groups are not currently meeting.

Contact: IDEA Office, idea@lbl.gov

20181-209 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Forces