Recent studies1-6 show that participation of people from underrepresented groups, including Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other People of Color, is the lowest in geosciences across the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
The Earth Sciences Department at IU Indianapolis is dedicated to both reconciling how our community is failing these and other marginalized groups, and to creating positive change through action. We believe that diverse and inclusive communities greatly improve science and society. We want to promote discussions on the topics of privilege, racial inequity, and inclusivity, and determine how best to ensure that all members of the Earth Sciences community are treated equitably so that people of all identities feel welcome and supported.
Initially, we will educate ourselves to better recognize how our current culture is creating a barrier to an equitable environment. Using this knowledge, our community is developing a series of actions to move forward on a path toward our goals, presented in a living document to be updated and assessed every 3 months. We will reflect our progress on each action item, adapting as needed to improve our efforts. We recognize that a wider range of perspectives than we currently have is important and we welcome feedback and suggestions from our students and the broader community.
Please consider sharing your experiences, suggestions, and thoughts via our anonymous feedback form. We are committed to doing the work, including making changes to our policies, culture, and curriculum, to create a more equitable and inclusive climate for current and future Earth Sciences community members.
1Dutt, 2019; 2Dutt, 2020; 3Hofstra et al., 2020; 4Huntoon et al., 2015; 5Marín-Spiotta et al., 2020; 6Stokes et al., 2015