BIM TOPiCS EDI.I Statement
We are committed to the life-long journey of learning and taking action to create an environment that is respectful, inclusive, diverse, and equitable. We see these values as the foundation of our educational and professional practices.
In Engineering, there are many under-represented and equity-deserving groups who have been historically denied equal access and opportunities, including: members of Indigenous communities, members of racialized communities, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, people with mental and physical health barriers, womxn and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Common barriers that are faced by these groups in the realms of STEM research and industry are: reduced access to educational opportunities, fewer pathways to leadership roles, lack of a sense of belonging and deserving, and lack of affinity bias. The purpose of equity, diversity and inclusion work is to address the systemic and individual biases that keep these barriers in place.
Read more about structural racism in STEM
Read more about diversity in STEM research in the Canadian context
Land and land use are central to the work of civil engineers. We acknowledge that, in British Columbia, it is ancestral, unceded, stolen land that we are working on, and we must commit to the practice of honoring this land and the Peoples who have traditionally occupied and cared for it. We must also acknowledge that there is a history of colonial violence and dispossession that has impacted both these Peoples and this land, and the legacy of this colonialism persists. Decolonizing civil engineering work and research and engaging meaningfully with the communities whose land we are working on is a path towards addressing this legacy and creating outcomes that benefit these communities.
Watch APSC’s dialogues on Truth and the Role of Engineers in Decolonization
We know that the construction industry has significant impacts on global issues such as the housing crisis and the climate crisis, which are made worse by social inequities. The research we are doing in this industry allows us to better respond to these issues, as innovations in the construction sector lead to buildings that are more resilient, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible. We know that inclusive and diverse work environments lead to better functioning teams, and better research teams lead to better research outcomes. We want to consider equity on all sides of research, from the researchers to the research subject to those impacted by the research. We are creating a more equitable research environment so that we can have more equitable research outcomes, and this can create more equity in industry and for end users.
Read more about the equity impacts of urban land use