How We Foster Diversity and Inclusion

At the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), we value and rely on contributions from a diverse workforce and community. We respect and celebrate the attributes, identities, beliefs, expertise, and perspectives that make each individual uniquely who they are, and believe that these differences enable excellence and promote our collective success. Diversity and inclusion are interrelated and deeply intertwined, which is why success in either requires a commitment to both. For these reasons, staff at the institute are focused on strategies that contribute to both diversity and inclusion.

Diversity: the inclusion of different types of people (such as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization.

A diverse workforce is made up of individuals with a wide range of characteristics and experiences. This includes age; ethnicity; gender; gender expression; language differences; marital status; nationality; occupation; parental status; physical abilities; neurodiversity; race; religion; sexual orientation; skin color; socio-economic status; work and behavioral styles; the perspectives of each individual shaped by their nation, experiences, and culture—and more. Each person is unique, whether they appear so or not.

Inclusion: the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (due to their race, gender, sexuality, or ability)

Our focus on inclusion puts the concept and practice of diversity into action by creating an environment of involvement, respect, and connection—where the richness of ideas, backgrounds, and perspectives are harnessed to create value. Inclusion recognizes that we are “one” even though we are not the same, that all people are born “in.”

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Annual Report Articles

Read about the actions we take to make our aspirations for a truly representative workforce a reality.

 

Annual Report Articles

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  1. Making Intentional Choices

    2022 ANNUAL REPORT ARTICLE

    STScI’s Diversity Officer Sharron Gatling explains how STScI is paving the way for a stronger, more collaborative workplace.

    Illustration shows five people standing roughly in a circle and pointing toward the stars in the night sky. The background is in shades of blue. A dark blue cityscape appears at left, but transitions at right into wavy shapes that look like hills. The cartoonish people appear to be standing on a lighter blue hill in the foreground. They are in a mix of clothing colors, including blues, oranges, and yellows, but are all in more formal workwear, like button-up shirts with ties. One woman with a pony tail appears in a knee-length skirt. They have various skin tones, including two people with light tan skin and three people with darker brown skin. The five stars at the top reflect different six-point spike patterns.
  2. Initiating Tough Conversations

    2020 ANNUAL REPORT ARTICLE

    Staff created programming to support our understanding of and response to diversity, equity, and inclusion topics at the institute.

    Illustration of several groups of people talking
  3. Empowering Ourselves

    2019 ANNUAL REPORT ARTICLE

    Each of us has a responsibility to help create safer environments for the people around us.

    Illustration of groups of people at a park talking and enjoying the sun
  4. Reconsidering Who We Are

    2018 ANNUAL REPORT ARTICLE

    How employee-led initiatives are influencing the institute’s culture.

    Colorful beads of various shapes and sizes on a white background