sPHENIX is a new detector at RHIC.

[David Morrison <morrison AT bnl.gov>]

Dear collaboration,

It's difficult to find the right way to communicate to the collaboration 
about the awful shootings in Atlanta, GA on March 16.  We are fortunate 
to have a very thoughtful and capable DE&I committee consisting of Vicki 
Green (VU), Christine Nattrass (UTK), and Ron Belmont (UNC Greensboro) 
to help us find these words.

Many of us in sPHENIX are distressed by the horrific murders in Atlanta, 
as well as the rise in acts of violence against and harassment of Asians 
and Asian Americans.  It’s especially important to acknowledge that many 
of the acts of violence are occurring at the intersection of race, 
ethnicity, and gender. These senseless tragedies highlight the long 
history of bias and violence against people of Asian descent in the US.

We want to support our Asian and Asian American collaborators. We invite 
any and everyone to go to the sPHENIX co-spokespeople or to members of 
the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEI) with any problems 
you face or suggestions you might have as to how to make sPHENIX a more 
diverse and inclusive collaboration. Each of us has a role to play in 
dismantling systemic racism and the consequences of both contemporary 
and historical inequities.  With this in mind, we make the following 
suggestions for how to contribute constructively to a more equitable, 
and more scientifically creative and productive physics community:

●    If you are experiencing bias or discrimination, either within 
sPHENIX, at Brookhaven, or within the broader physics community, please 
ask the sPHENIX Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee for resources.
●    If you need support in understanding bias, discrimination, or in 
knowing how you can help support your Asian and Asian American 
colleagues, please ask the sPHENIX Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 
committee for resources.
●    Intervene if you witness bullying or biased words and actions and 
make sure that people are properly credited for their work and ideas.  
An intervention can be as simple as asking someone to stop the behavior, 
signaling to both the target of the behavior and to others that such 
behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable.
●    Speak up for equity and diversity.  Too often this burden falls on 
the underrepresented groups themselves.  People from the majority can be 
highly effective allies and advocates for equity and inclusion.
●    Get to know your colleagues, their work, and their background. The 
process of getting to know people will broaden your own scientific 
knowledge and social networks.

We acknowledge the many important contributions to sPHENIX made by our 
Asian and Asian-American colleagues.  While there are far too many to 
fully enumerate, we highlight key R&D and construction done for the 
MAPS, INTT, and EMCal, as well as significant financial contributions 
from Asian member institutions.  It goes without saying that, without 
these contributions, the full realization of the sPHENIX physics mission 
would not be possible.

Regards,
Dave and Gunther

--
David Morrison  Brookhaven National Laboratory  phone: 631-344-5840
                Physics Department, Bldg 510 C    fax: 631-344-3253
                          Upton, NY 11973-5000  email: dave AT bnl.gov