Diversity Charter signed: GSI/FAIR promotes diversity

06.07.2021

GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung and Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research in Europe GmbH (FAIR GmbH) have signed the "Diversity Charter". Thereby, GSI/FAIR is committed to an organizational culture of diversity that is free of prejudice. The implementation of the "Diversity Charter" aims to create and promote an appreciative work environment for all employees, "irrespective of age, ethnic background and nationality, gender and gender identity, physical and mental abilities, religion and worldview, sexual orientation and social background," the charter declares. The charter was signed by the three managing directors of GSI and FAIR, Professor Paolo Giubellino, Dr. Ulrich Breuer and Jörg Blaurock.

The "Diversity Charter" is the result of a corporate initiative to promote diversity in companies and public institutions. The German government supports this initiative, which operates under the aegis of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. More than 3,800 companies and institutions with about 14 million employees have signed the “Diversity Charter”.

The initiative has been supported by the non-profit association “Charta der Vielfalt e.V”. since 2010. Its goal is to promote the recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in corporate culture in Germany. With various projects, the “Diversity Charter” continues to advance the discussion on diversity management in Germany.

Professor Paolo Giubellino, Scientific Managing Director of GSI and FAIR emphasizes: "For GSI/FAIR as a strongly internationally operating research institution, the cooperation with different people and cultures has long been part of everyday life. Cutting-edge research is based on lively collaborations across all borders, not only across state borders. An unprejudiced perspective that optimally promotes the diverse talents is of great importance for successful top-level science.

Ulrich Breuer, Administrative Managing Director of GSI and FAIR stresses: "The diversity of our employees with all their different skills and talents opens up a potential that we do not want to relinquish and cannot relinquish. Diversity is also an economic factor of success. It generates opportunities to meet the demands of modern business and working life even more successfully and efficiently, especially in an open-minded institution like GSI/FAIR."

Jörg Blaurock, Technical Managing Director of GSI and FAIR underlines: "Appreciation and recognition of diversity are an important resource that paves the way for innovative solutions. New perspectives and constructive cooperation make it possible to meet the challenges of increasing globalization. This capacity for innovation, which emerges from an organizational culture of diversity, must be harnessed to shape and advance promising future-oriented projects as FAIR."

Already last year, the centers of the Helmholtz Association agreed to develop and live a common understanding of diversity, inclusion and a diversity-aware organizational culture. All 19 members of the Helmholtz Association, among them also GSI, have officially adopted a corresponding guideline in their assembly of members in order to create the framework conditions for reflecting diversity and inclusion in the processes, structures and conditions of the centers. Now, with the signing of the "Diversity Charter", it was underlined how important it is for GSI/FAIR to have a climate of acceptance and mutual trust. (BP)

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