Online Conversations for Equity, Action, and Networking: A Pilot Project Highlighting Diversity in the Ocean Sciences

Abstract

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement urged institutions to redress shortcomings in their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals and initiatives. The School for the Environment (SFE) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston), a public research minority serving university in the United States of America, responded to this call through launching the Online Conversations for Equity, Action, and Networking (OCEAN) program. This pilot project funded by Woods Hole Sea Grant aimed to amplify the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in the marine sciences. A collective of SFE undergraduate and graduate students hosted virtual department seminars, undergraduate meet and greets, and podcast interviews for invited BIPOC speakers. Pre-and post-surveys were developed to evaluate the efficacy and reach of the OCEAN programming and the results indicate that the program had an overall positive effect on the UMass Boston community. Ultimately, the OCEAN program provides an example for launching and evaluating virtual BIPOC science engagement and outreach initiatives.