NOTICE: technical issues in early 2022 led to partial loss of the GeoReading library sheet—find the version 2.0 here!

What is Reading for Equity?

We are a group of Geoscience graduate students, faculty, and researchers spanning multiple institutions who are passionate about improving equity and access in our field. We read all the time for science, so why not read to educate ourselves about equity? So often we predominantly ask the under represented groups in our communities to do the work of educating us, yet we educate ourselves and each other all the time in a range of topics related to our disciplines.

This page is intended to reduce redundancy by compiling resources we often share, and be a repository of material including: 1) the background of inequity in STEM higher ed, 2) particular Geoscience/Earth Science equity issues, and 3) strategies and resources for facilitating hard conversations. At this time, we hope you will add to the libraries and use these ideas to start conversations within your communities.

Take Action

Join URGE!!! Lots of peope in our communities were catalyzed to learning, dialogue, and action in 2020. We are really excited to partner with and boost the signal for Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE) in 2021! URGE is supported by the NSF EAR directorate and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. URGE consists of 8 two-week sessions focused on readings, conversations with experts, and interactions with the community! We at GeoReading are really grateful to a group of URGE volunteers for organizing our library and adding us to their resource page! Check out the thematic reading lists here!

As of 2022-2023, here are some actions we recommend or have recommended in the past. This is not a comprehensive list, so let us know if you want to add something you are working on!

Petitions, Letters, and Online Actions

• #BlackInGeoscience Week follow @BlkinGeoscience for info!

• #ShutDownSTEM and #Strike4BlackLives (Dr. Brian Nord, Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, et al.) as well as read up on #BlackInTheIvory

• Sign the Petition: Call for a Robust Anti-Racism Plan for The Geosciences (Dr. Hendratta Ali, GSA Culture Task Force, SEG-WNC Advisory Board)

• Read and act on this Call to Action for an Anti-Racist Science Community from Geoscientists of Color: Listen, Act, Lead (Dr. Vernon Morris, et al.)

• Check out and use this example to write a letter to your department about DEI actions. (@vince_clementi, @OcnOgrphr)

• Academics for Black Lives and Wellness: 21 day training

Departmental Actions, Admissions & Teaching

• Develop, disseminate, and complete actions in a framework like the one here (Dr. Tessa Hill, UC Davis; Dr. Christy Till, ASU)

• Think about how welcoming your physical spaces are. Many departments and research units are starting with an assessment of their displays.

• Think about your admissions criteria and the role of tests like the GRE. Consider taking steps to add your department to this growing list of departments that do not require the GRE. Check out this slideshare about #GRExit for resources to help your conversation.

• Head over to ADVANCEGeo for an array of resources on safety, inclusion, and equity based policies and practices in the classroom, field, lab, and beyond.

Conferences

• Planning a seminar or conference? Consider expanding your invite list.

• Commit to participating in the GSA Pardee Symposium: The Next Generation of Geoscience Leaders (2020)

• Commit to participating in the AGU Chapman Conference: The Second National Conference: Justice in Geoscience (2022)

Mentoring

• Check out and participate in the Earth Science Mentor Match or GEMS

• Check out FutureRockDoc—a great collection of resources for geoscience graduate students on navigating grad school!