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Cultivating Diversity Champions: Practices and Lessons from Two NSF Geoscience Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity (GOLD) Projects
Abstract
The United States needs a diverse scientific workforce in order to tap fresh thinking and talent needed to advance the country’s competitive edge and economic well-being. This is particularly true in the geoscience fields, where women and people of color have been underrepresented for decades. Geoscience expertise is crucial to weather forecasting, sea commerce, air safety, protecting communities from wildfires and many other applications. The National Science Foundation’s Geoscience Opportunities for Leadership in Diversity, which ran from 2016 to 2019, sought ways to improve diversity, inclusion and equity in the geosciences. Its five projects took different approaches, but all faced common challenges as they developed model activities to guide the diversification of the geosciences. One key challenge was the widespread belief among geoscience faculty that “science is science”, and that the question of who gets to practice geoscience is answered using the scientific method. The key lesson learned was that greater levels of diversity, equity and inclusion in the geosciences will not happen unless the time and effort spent diversifying the geosciences counts for tenure and promotion. Any institution wishing to recruit and retain top talent will find its efforts thwarted unless it creates an environment in which its champions for greater diversity in the geosciences can pursue diversity, equity and inclusion work and thrive professionally.
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2020-01-01
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American Society for Engineering Education
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American Society for Engineering Education. (2020). Cultivating Diversity Champions: Practices and Lessons from Two NSF Geoscience Opportunities for Leadership In Diversity (GOLD) Projects. Washington, DC.
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Education