The scientific mission of our lab is to generate and communicate new knowledge about how ecological communities are formed and sustained in an era of human-induced change. We believe this is best accomplished by a diverse and collaborative scientific community and a supportive culture that encourages growth.

We recognize and value diverse people and perspectives in our science, our lab culture, and in our communities. We believe that diversity inspires creativity, fuels innovation, reduces bias, and creates more comprehensive scientific evidence. We openly acknowledge that racism, sexism, and other power differentials are a part of the places and cultures we live in. We are dedicated to continually working to improve our understanding of these power differentials and actively striving to be anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti- any power differential. 

We strive to create a culture of trust and safety that promotes authenticity and vulnerability and the ability to do our best work and be our best selves. We embrace growth and learning from mistakes. We simultaneously hold each other accountable and support each other as we grow and learn. We respect and value each lab member and the contributions we each make to our lab community and the scientific work we do. We recognize and support each other in the many roles we play in academia and beyond. We are also friends, family members, parents, and community members, and we have interests beyond academia that make us whole. We strive for a sustainable and enjoyable work-life balance. 

The statement above was co-created by the Damschen Lab. This evolving document will be shaped by our continual learning and growth.