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USGS Geologic Hazard Science Center’s Strategies and Actions for Fostering a Diverse Geoscience Community

Events in 2020 have brought to the forefront the importance of addressing issues and taking meaningful actions related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at all levels within academia, the private sector, and Government. In response to this call to action, the USGS Geologic Hazards Science Center (GHSC) formed a DEI Committee in late 2020. We maintain that DEI in our community is critical to long-term job satisfaction, quality of life at work, and staff retention, all while contributing to not only the productivity and the robustness of our science, and to social justice more broadly. While female representation in staff and leadership at the Center has increased from 2000 to 2020, this success has not been paralleled in other areas of DEI. A more representative workforce is required to assure that research and products related to natural disaster mitigation address the needs for all communities. The DEI Committee developed a Charter that outlines our first-year activities and goals, including: (1) Pursuing guidance from DEI professionals, and transferring that knowledge internally; (2) Surveying the GHSC community and identifying DEI-related gaps in our Center; (3) Recommending remedial actions and activities; (4) Working with Center personnel and leadership to implement these recommendations through attention to DEI in recruitment and hiring, employee performance plans, and other Center activities; and (5) Contributing to the adoption of a system of accountability to ensure external grants adhere to the principles of DEI. We also recommended that increased activities related to Communication, Education, and Outreach (CEO) by GSHC members—particularly those targeting STEM education and underrepresented groups—will help further promote participation in DEI goals. The Committee aims to firmly foster these DEI and CEO principles and activities as core cultural values of our Center and ensure that these activities complement broader USGS initiatives

Presenting Author: Allison M. Shumway

Student Presenter: No

Day: 4/21/2021

Time: 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Pacific

Additional Authors