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Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Efforts at the USGS Earthquake Science Center

Session: Strategies and Actions for Fostering a Diverse Seismology Community

Type: Oral

Date: 4/21/2021

Presentation Time: 03:00 PM Pacific

Description: 

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Science Center (ESC) formed a volunteer Working Group on Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity (EIDWG) in 2020 in response to the widespread protests against systemic racism and structural inequities in American society, the lack of diversity in the Earth Science community, and how these issues affect the Earth Sciences, our work environments, and create inequitable impacts of earthquakes on minority communities. ESC is more than a group of geoscientists. One hundred and fifty colleagues in four states, with a wide range of expertise, carry out earthquake monitoring, hazards assessments, basic and applied research, outreach and public education, and administration and support. After initial meetings, the EIDWG formed three subgroups. The Education and Outreach subgroup seeks to engage youth to achieve future improvements in the diversity of the geosciences. An initial goal is to increase the interest level in the geosciences with outreach activities for elementary and middle schools with minority populations. The Hiring and Internships subgroup aspires to widen our recruitment pool and to use student internship and early-career hiring to build a more diverse workforce. Initial goals have been to streamline procedures for hiring students into paid internships at the USGS, to leverage collaborations with Minority Serving Institutions, and to encourage training in implicit bias for hiring committees. The Welcoming Environment subgroup strives to ensure that we become a good workplace for everyone. Initial goals include conducting a survey on experiences, attitudes, and sense of belonging; encouraging trainings and discussions on EID issues; and providing upward career paths for administrative, support, and operational personnel. We are also exploring ways to better serve minority communities as we apply our work. The EIDWG combines a grassroots approach with support from leadership and coordination with other USGS efforts.

Presenting Author: . The Earthquake Science Center Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Working Group

Student Presenter: No

Authors