The Media Lab DEI WG aims to foster a respectful, equitable, and interconnected Media Lab community where all members have the opportunity to succeed and thrive.

Carrying on the significant work of not just the Culture Working Group but also that of the Funding, Governance, Research, and Student-Advisor groups, the DEI Working Group has been charged with continuing these efforts in a focused, strategic, and inclusive manner.

Working Group Mission 2025-2026

The Media Lab’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group (DEI WG) is dedicated to fostering an environment that respects and values all members of our community. Building on initiatives launched in 2019, we strive to ensure that all faculty, staff, and students have equitable opportunities to succeed and thrive. We create spaces for open dialogue, building community, and amplifying voices through surveys, discussions, and events. We foster candid conversations, mutual learning, and collective reflection on difficult issues. 

Core Principles

All members of our community, i.e., students, staff, and faculty, should feel they belong to this community and have equitable access to opportunities while they work, study, and socialize at the Lab. With this in mind, the Media Lab Working Group exists to:

• Plan and execute community-building activities and events that strengthen our mission, including constituent access, belonging, and support.
• Identify barriers to the former and recommend practical actions to Media Lab and MAS leadership to remove obstacles or remedy deficiencies to nurture fairness, respect, and inclusion across the Lab.
• As Lab policies evolve, the DEIB WG works to align them with our Core Principles, regularly surveying the community, assessing needs, and delivering actionable recommendations to SA+P, Media Lab and MAS leadership, with community engagement central to implementation.

Core Activities

1. Community Engagement – Hold open forums and informal gatherings to hear concerns and ideas about belonging.
2. Learning & Culture – Organize events and discussions that promote openness, transparency, compassion, and learning about one another.

Climate Assessment – Conduct periodic surveys to understand community experiences and utilize this information in discussion with Lab leadership.

The DEI Working Group will be looking for new members in Fall 2025!

What does it mean to be a part of the DEI Working Group?

• Join in-person meetings on a bi-weekly basis.
• Spend 1–2 hours between meetings on DEI-related projects
• Share updates and ideas with your team, group, or peers
• Bring creative ideas to build community and foster belonging
• Help connect people across the Lab to create a more inclusive space

How to Become a Member

The DEI working group is a group of committed students, staff, and faculty working to create a space to foster our values: excellence, integrity, humility, individuality, community, creativity, and open collaboration. We do this through building relationships across the Lab and Institute, assessing and responding to the needs of our community, and developing recommendations for leadership. You may have already attended some of our past events: Flubruary and Community Talks + Waffles.

Please fill out this form to apply. If we get more applications than we have slots, we will pick candidates from a hat. 

• What change do you want to see in the Lab?
• Why do you think the Lab needs a DEI working group?

We look forward to hearing from you!

Best,

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group

Please email us at deiwg@media.mit.edu with any questions.