Dr.-Ing. Media Ghasem Zadeh Khorasani
Source: BAM
What do equality, diversity and variety mean to you personally?
For me, these values mean recognizing, appreciating and valuing the uniqueness of each individual. It is about creating an environment in which all people have the same opportunities regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation and identity, age, physical ability or neurodiversity. An organization like BAM should mirror the diversity in society. Like many expats who have come to Berlin, I chose to make it my home because of its openness and diversity, and I expect my workplace to reflect these values as well.
Personally, I also avoid using the word "tolerance" in connection with diversity, as it tends to have a negative connotation. Instead, we should consciously celebrate diversity by seeing individual differences as advantages. That way, we can also benefit from it as an organization.
Why do you think diversity is important in a departmental research institution like BAM?
In recent years, many international talents have been attracted to BAM primarily through our outstanding research activities. However, it is also becoming increasingly important to pursue strategic diversity and inclusion management in order to attract and retain employees in the long term. When people with different backgrounds work together, their unique perspectives often lead to more creativity and innovative solutions.
What challenges do you see with regard to equality, particularly in the public sector?
There is an outdated view of equal opportunity that has traditionally focused only on gender and has not taken other aspects of diversity into account. Changing this with a new equal opportunity policy and guidelines is a long-term project. Many leading companies in the business world are already much further ahead: they communicate their diversity very consciously. Language can also be a barrier. German is often still the "official language" in the public sector. This can lead to conflicts and a feeling of exclusion among international scientists, which means that BAM cannot fully utilize their talent and skills.