Department Culture and Community

The Biological Sciences Division (BSD) strives to create an environment that welcomes and promotes diversity of thought and experience as essential features for advancing human knowledge and enabling transformative education. Authentic engagement with people whose views and paths differ from our own allows us to challenge assumptions and generate the most impactful, field-defining research and healthcare delivery. An academic climate that is diverse and inclusive promotes rigorous inquiry through encouraging critical examination of assumptions, often the first step toward breakthrough discoveries and treatments.

The BSD is committed to encouraging a multiplicity of voices, as this is foundational to free expression and academic freedom. This culture of free expression exists across academic, research, and clinical settings that includes people of many different backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion strengthens the BSD’s distinctive intellectual character and supports our Elevate 2035 strategic plan for continual growth as a leading research and healthcare delivery organization anchored on the South Side of Chicago. This culture deepens our ability to connect with and positively impact communities locally, nationally, and globally.