The Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee strives to promote and support inclusion, diversity, equity, and access for the BGA membership and at BGA affiliated events. The committee functions as a catalyst for new inclusion-, diversity, equity-, and access-related initiatives, and monitors, evaluates, advocates for, and reports on matters pertaining to the inclusion, diversity, equity, and access of BGA. The committee is also responsible for receiving reports of alleged violations of the BGA conduct policy, investigating the report, and giving a recommendation of action, if appropriate, to the BGA executive committee.

This committee consists of 3 members elected by the BGA membership. These elected members serve 3-year staggered terms, and typically the longest standing committee member will serve as chair. Each year, one member of the committee rotates off, two candidates will be nominated for the committee, and BGA members select the new committee member during the regular BGA election process. Given the role of the committee in managing conduct complaints, only regular members who are more senior in their careers will be recommended for nomination to the committee. Beyond the elected IDEA members, the committee welcomes volunteers to assist with the other functions of the committee.

To contact the IDEA committee please email Sara Hart, Kit Elam, and/or Deborah Finkel.

Click here to read BGA’s code of conduct.

Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan

The events of 2020 and 2021, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disadvantaged and marginalized communities, bring renewed urgency for scientific organizations worldwide to acknowledge the role science has played in racism. The history of our field is inextricably linked with racism, including the misuse of behavior genetic research to support violent eugenic policies. It is vitally important not only that the Behavior Genetics Association states unequivocally that Black Lives Matter, but also that we commit to actions advancing diversity, inclusion, equality, and awareness within our organization and to prevent racist misuse of our science now and in the future. Therefore, the Behavior Genetics Association Executive Committee in consultation with the recently created Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee have developed an action plan to address the structural inequities rife within our community.

Click here to read BGA’s diversity and inclusion action plan.