2024 DEIA initiatives for a welcoming workplace

Our 2024 DEIA initiatives include 18 innovative projects, from developing inclusive recruitment strategies to revolutionizing our digital user experience. For instance, one of our key projects involves enhancing the accessibility of our digital platforms. By implementing user-friendly design and assistive technologies, we aim to make our digital content easily navigable and understandable for all users, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.

Additionally, we are undertaking a major initiative to enhance our hiring procedures. We aim to draw a wide array of skilled candidates from different walks of life, ensuring that our team's makeup mirrors the varied nature of the communities we support. This effort includes partnerships with organizations supporting underrepresented science and technology groups, offering internships and mentorship programs to foster early interest and development in our field.

The importance of DEIA at GSL extends beyond internal policies to the heart of our mission - creating inclusive products. Inclusivity in product design ensures that the tools and services we develop are not only scientifically sound but also universally accessible and useful. For example, our weather forecasting tools are designed with features catering to a range of users, including those with visual or hearing impairments. This approach enhances user experience and ensures that vital information is disseminated effectively to all, especially in critical situations.

Throughout 2024, we'll be sharing updates and insights into these initiatives, inviting our community to engage in this transformative journey. We believe that these efforts will not only create a more inclusive and equitable environment within GSL but will also set a precedent in the realm of scientific research and technology.

DEIA at GSL is more than a set of objectives; it's a catalyst for innovation and a beacon guiding us toward a future where science and technology are accessible and beneficial to everyone. Through our 2024 initiatives, we are not just aspiring to change the present but paving the way for a more inclusive and diverse future in science.

Watch the Inclusive Design Lunch and Learn video series by GSL/CIRA Dmitri Atrash.

These are bi-weekly recorded video sessions planned for 45 minutes, 30 minutes of content and 15 minutes allotted for follow-ups and Q&A. The series begins with an introduction to inclusive design, underscoring its importance in creating universally accessible and user-friendly digital environments. It systematically unpacks various facets of inclusive design, from digital accessibility basics to the nuances of accessible data visualizations, offering detailed insights and methodologies to embed inclusivity into design practices effectively.

March 20, 2024: Introduction to Inclusive Design
April 3, 2024: Digital Accessibility Basics
April 17, 2024: Inclusive Typography: Beyond Aesthetics
May 1, 2024: Color Usage and Accessibility
May 15, 2024: Designing for Screen Readers
May 29, 2024: Inclusive Language in Software Design
June 12, 2024: Cognitive Accessibility in Design
June 26, 2024: Accessible Navigation Patterns
July 24, 2024: Mobile Accessibility Features
August 7, 2024: Inclusive Imagery and Media
August 21, 2024: Accessibility Laws and Compliance
September 4, 2024: Empathy in User Experience Design
September 18, 2024: Designing for Diverse Audiences
October 2, 2024: Inclusive User Research Methods
October 16, 2024: The Role of AI in Inclusive Design
October 30, 2024: Voice Interface and Accessibility
November 13, 2024: Designing for Different Abilities
November 27, 2024: User-Centered Design Thinking
December 11, 2024: Accessible Form Design and UX
January 8, 2025: Integrating Accessibility into Existing Projects

January 22, 2025: Creating Accessible Data Visualizations