In Energy Sciences, we are committed to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability – IDEA. The ESA IDEA committee puts these core principles into action at the local level, identifying opportunities, advising leadership, and helping to create an environment in which everyone is valued and supported.
Initiatives of the ESA IDEA committee have led to outcomes including the creation of a hiring guide that details best practices for conducting inclusive and equitable recruitments, the ASPIRES internship program, and the MESA mentoring program described below.
The ESA IDEA committee includes the chairs from each of the ESA Division IDEA committees as well as the ESA leadership team. Their activities are part of Berkeley Lab’s commitment to IDEA.
Undergraduate internships provide students with valuable research experience and help prepare the next generation of scientists. To create a summer internship program that supports our principles of diversity and inclusion, ESA partnered with California State University, East Bay (CSUEB), home to one of the most diverse student populations on the U.S. mainland. The resulting ASPIRES program (Advancing STEM Pioneers In Research in Energy Sciences) gives undergraduate students an opportunity to immerse themselves in our world-renowned, collaborative environment. With substantial stipends for interns and no minimum GPA requirement, this program aims to reduce barriers to participation so students and their mentors can focus on science instead.
The Mentorship in Energy Sciences Area program (MESA) aims to establish a robust culture of support for staff who work in the Energy Sciences Area, to facilitate their success, growth, and engagement at the Lab through one-on-one mentor–mentee relationships.
Learn more about ESA IDEA activities on the ESA Division IDEA committee websites.
