EDI Resources

McMaster University EDI Groups

• The Promoting Inclusivity in Physics & Astronomy is student-led group dedicated to making the Department of Physics & Astronomy a more inclusive, diverse, and supportive environment.
• The Equity & Inclusion Office (EIO) is a central resource where expertise is proactively drawn upon by administrators, faculty, staff, and students to advance unit-specific and institutional equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility goals; to enact inclusive excellence principles; and to establish respectful living, learning, and working environments that are free from harassment and discrimination, and sexual violence including through timely and procedurally fair investigative and alternative dispute resolution processes.
  • Events & Workshops
• The President’s Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community (PACBIC) is a central organization that aims to identify and anticipate issues affecting equity-seeking communities (including but not limited to First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of racialized communities, newcomers and refugees, members of diverse faith communities, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ-identified individuals, and women) both within the University and relevant to those seeking access to the University, and advise the President on such issues.

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Accessibility Resources

• Student Accessibility Services provides academic accommodation assistance and related supports to students with disabilities at McMaster.
• AccessMac is an organization that works towards advancing accessibility and inclusion at McMaster University.
  • News & Events
• Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities recommends to the City of Hamilton policies, procedures and standards that address the needs and concerns of persons with disabilities.

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Resources for Indigenous Community Members

• Indigenous Student Services includes a variety of services available for Aboriginal students at McMaster, as well as a welcoming and friendly staff who are here to help support you throughout your time at McMaster.
• The Coalition of Hamilton Indigenous Leadership (CHIL) is a collaborative of Indigenous organizational leaders founded on respect and wisdom. CHIL respond to the needs of our community and support our member agencies by improving resources and advancing Indigenous voices in Hamilton.
• Local Indigenous Resources contains links to Aboriginal organizations around Hamilton.
• The Indigenous Studies Program, designed for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, allows you to explore the intellectual traditions of many Indigenous peoples.
• The McMaster Indigenous Research Institute exists to foster research excellence and best practices for all Indigenous related research across McMaster.
• The Cooperative of Indigenous Studies Students and Alumni was developed at McMaster University as a means to further promote and support Indigenous peoples, Knowledge and culture.

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Inclusion & Anti-Racism Resources

• Inclusion & Anti-Racism Education, McMaster provides education and support to students, staff, and faculty members through consultation meetings, workshops, special events, and discussion groups, for example.
• RESIST: BIPOC Working Group for Graduate Students of Colour is a monthly working group for students of colour to discuss race and racism in the classroom and develop strategies and resources to improve conditions
• The BIPOC Resilience and Peer Support is a virtual safe community where Black, Indigenous and People of Colour can share their voices and uplift one another.

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Gender & Sexuality Resources

• McMaster Pride Community Center provides a contact point for McMaster students that may identify as LGBTQ2SI+ but anyone may access our services. We provide one on one peer support, support groups, educational events, advocacy, and social events.
• Hamilton Family Health Team is a team of health professionals formed by the Ontario government to help people get healthcare in their community.
• Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Office (SVPRO), McMaster University provides services including sexual violence support, intake, education, and more.
  • Getting Support
  • Giving Support
  • Training/Workshops

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Human Rights and Dispute Resolution

• The Human Rights & Dispute Resolution Program at McMaster provides consultation to McMaster community members on issues related to human rights; acts as an Intake Office for formal complaints of discrimination, harassment or sexual violence; oversees and, where required, investigates formal complaints lodged under the University’s Discrimination & Harassment Policy and/or the Sexual Violence Policy; and when requested, facilitates resolution of concerns and complaints using alternate dispute resolution practices.
• The McMaster Ombuds Office works to ensure that all students, staff, and faculty are treated in a fair and equitable manner within the institution. To this end, the Office provides independent, impartial and confidential dispute-resolution advice and assistance on University-related issues to all members of the McMaster community, promotes discussion of institution-wide concerns, and makes recommendations for systemic changes as appropriate.

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Mental Health & Wellbeing

• The Student Wellness Center is the place on campus to address your wellness needs. We provide a range of counselling options, medical services and wellness programs so that you can get the most out of your McMaster experience, academically and personally!
  • Counseling
• McMaster Wellness Resources is a guide to taking care of yourself and others in university.

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Physics Societies

• The American Physical Society (APS) is a nonprofit membership organization working to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics through its outstanding research journals, scientific meetings, and education, outreach, advocacy, and international activities.
  • Women in Physics
  • Minorities in Physics
  • LGBT+ in Physics
• The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is the major organization of professional astronomers in North America whose mission is to enhance and share humanity's scientific understanding of the universe.
  • Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy
  • Committee on the Status of Minorities in Astronomy
  • Committee for Sexual Orientation and Gender Minorities in Astronomy

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Self-Education Resources 

Indigenous culture, history, and education

• King, T. 2021 The Inconvenient Indian
• Vowel, C. 2016 Indigenous Wrires
• Wilson, S. 2008 Research Is Ceremony
• Cote-Meek, S. 2014 Colonized Classrooms
• Decolonization is not a metaphor

Indigenous science

• Cajete, G. 1995 Native Science: Natural Laws of Interdependence
• MacDonald, J. 1998 The Arctic Sky
• Peat, F. D. 1995 Blackfoot Physics
• Williamson, Ray A. 1984. Living the Sky
• The Value of Indigenous Ways of Knowing to Western Science and Environmental Sustainability
• Indigenous knowledge and science revisited
• Two-Eyed Seeing
• Indigenous astronomy (thanks to Hilding Neilson)
  • A Tale of Two Observatories: Astronomy and Indigenous Communities in the Southwest US
  • Astronomical Observatories and Indigenous Communities in Chile
  • Mauna Kea collection
    • National Academy of Science Astro2020 Decadal Review: Maunakea Perspectives
    • Envision Maunakea
    • A collective insight into the cultural and academic journeys of Native Hawaiians while pursuing careers in physics and astronomy
    • CATAC Update on the Thirty Meter Telescope (December 2019)
  • Atchakosuk: Ininewuk Stories of the Stars
  • Dawes Review 5: Australian Aboriginal Astronomy and Navigation
  • Whitening the Sky: light pollution as a form of cultural genocide
  • Indigenizing the next decade of astronomy in Canada
  • Reframing astronomical research through an anticolonial lens -- for TMT and beyond

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