It is a pleasure to welcome friends, colleagues, and especially newcomers to PerCom 2020, the eighteenth convening of the IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications!

PerCom is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive forum that supports freedom of thought, expression, and the open exchange of ideas among all attendees. We have several new developments to share with this community in support of this commitment! Over the past year, PerCom has established a steering subcommittee to make recommendations for long-term, strategic plans to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the pervasive computing research community. We look forward to seeing the implementation of these recommendations over the coming years. In addition, the PerCom conference organizing committee now includes a Diversity and Inclusion Chair position. Serving in this role for PerCom 2020, we are taking action to implement best-practices for making the conference a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for everyone involved regardless of age, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, or religious beliefs.

Moving forward, PerCom aims to:

• Form a diverse and inclusive program and organizing committee: recruit qualified members of the organization committee, members of the technical program committee, and reviewers such that (1) the resulting populations are diverse with respect to race, gender, home institutions, geography, and research expertise; and (2) committee memberships are rejuvenated year to year by inclusion of new, fresh members.
• Recruit speakers that advance diversity in our research community: recruit invited speakers and panelists with diverse backgrounds and research areas within pervasive computing to ensure diversity in thinking and perspective.
• Mitigate biases: promote reviewing practices that mitigate subconscious biases with respect to national origin, gender, sexual orientation, and race.

You can find the new PerCom 2020 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement on the conference website, which embraces the standards of the IEEE Statements on Inclusion and Event Conduct, along with a FAQ that helps conference attendees to find resources for accessibility and inclusion. You'll also find messages throughout the conference venue that give tips on small actions you can take at the conference (and beyond!) to advance the open exchange of scientific ideas and to ensure that all attendees experience the inclusive and welcoming spirit of the PerCom research community.

Jamie Payton and Behrooz Shirazi, PerCom 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chairs