DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

We strive to create and cultivate a diverse international research group that is comprised of all races, cultures, religions and sexual identities. We firmly stand with the Black Lives Matter movement and all of those that have fought strongly in favor of racial equality and social justice.

We recognize that Anthropology and Biology are fields that suffer from systemic racism. This racism has hindered academic scholarship and applied research. For this reason, we especially welcome Black students and scholars, as well as Latinx, Indigenous, and other People of Color. We welcome LGBTQIA+ students and scholars as well as those that practice any religion (or atheists). We welcome those that have a seen or unseen disability. Our research group is opposed to racism everywhere and we do not tolerate oppression, exclusion, or discrimination. We also do not tolerate sexual harassment or academic bullying within our research group.

We welcome international students and scholars for short or long visits to our laboratory in NYC or our research sites in Uganda. While we don't typically have funding for these visits, we are happy to write collaborative grants when the research falls within our scope. Thus far, we have hosted students and scholars from: Uganda, Kenya, Cambodia, Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Australia, Rwanda and Japan.

Key ongoing initiatives include:

Field and Research Experiences for Underrepresented Minorities
We routinely apply for, receive and allocate funds specifically to students that are underrepresented in STEM including Latinx and Black students to travel to our field site and participate in independent research. We have supported eight students so far. We have an IRES grant for minority students to participate in field research alongside Uganda Wildlife Authority park wardens. Read more about the project here: IRES award

Partnership for Capacity Building with the Uganda Wildlife Authority
We have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ugandan government whereby our research fees pay the tuition of Ugandan park warden’s masters degrees. So far six wardens have been trained. We work closely with them through Makerere University. Our Hunter undergraduate and graduate students work closely to learn directly from Ugandan park wardens.

Middle School Student Outreach
Our goal is to inform and inspire K-12 students about the different options for science research. In this respect, our group is in the process of partnering with IS 181, a middle school in Co-op City, Bronx where Prof Rothman is an alumna to bring our science to grades 6 & 7 students about science, wildlife research and college. These students are >90% minorities in STEM including Black students and other students of color.

Reforming Undergraduate Primatology to include Indigenous Voices
East African colleagues along with Dr. Rothman are editing a primatology reader that highlights the experiences of in country primatologists in their own voices so that USA undergraduate students can learn about the experiences of scientists from their own countries and not solely from European and USA authors.

Collaborative Wildlife Management and Partnerships with Uganda Wildlife Authority
Dr. Rothman is the only American researcher who is a lifetime Honorary Wildlife Officer for the government of Uganda. This appointed position is offered to those making substantial contributions to conservation. She participates in conservation discussions, and contributes to Ugandan wildlife policy through this role. Click here for a press release in Uganda.

Field Training for USA Undergraduates by Indigenous Scholars
Our group runs a field course in Uganda that has >75% lecturers that are Ugandan who teach USA students to highlight indigenous knowledge, expertise and experience. Learn more about the program here.