JDEI
Our research group at Louisiana State University is dedicated to fostering a culture of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We recognize that our community thrives on the richness of various backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives and we are committed to promoting equality by ensuring that every voice is heard, respected, and valued, as we work together to address the pressing questions in geosciences and create an academic environment where everyone can succeed and excel.
International and Diverse Students
During my time at UT I created a document to outline the complicated process and critical steps that international students need to take to come to the U.S. (e.g., VISA requirements, vaccination records) and what to expect once they are in the country (e.g., how to find a house, where to buy furniture). It is tailored more towards the University of Texas at Austin but still applicable for other places.
During my Ph.D I was the co-founder and organizer of the "JSG around the world,” an international student seminar. The seminar is designed, so international students promote their cultures and create awareness about the different backgrounds in the UT community. This is one way to foster a welcoming and positive environment for international and minority students and increase diversity in the geosciences.
Inclusive Fieldwork
During the pandemic, we have all learned new ways to create a more inclusive educational and scientific environment that we should carry forward, even during post-pandemic times. One of these aspects is to include students who lack the ability to actively participate in field campaigns. It has been shown that ‘traditional’ fieldwork can be a barrier for talented scientists and students who cannot participate due to disabilities, religion, psychological and other reasons (e.g., Mosher and Keane, 2021; Abeyta et al., 2021).
We are currently working on developing a virtual field game for Crete and Catalina Islands to increase inclusivity and accessibility in both the classroom and the field and also contribute to the geologic knowledge of the local communities.
You can find here a dynamic list of resources compiled for inclusive and accessible fieldwork.