Uniting to Advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in a Pandemic and Post-Pandemic World

Abstract

This contribution examines the context for the newly-founded Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee of the European Association of Geochemistry. The report summarises the work to advance DEI undertaken during 2020 under conditions of the COVID-19 global pandemic, acknowledges the various impacts for community members, and takes a forward view to opportunities of a post-pandemic world.

Designs on Pandemic and Post-Pandemic Meetings: Learning with the EPSC 2021 Team

“…This difficult time necessitated changes to the ways in which we work and prompted deep reflection concerning how societies operate, support, include one another, and must adapt and progress with the times (e.g. Riches et al, 2021, and a European Image Credit: Artists impression of an impact among asteroids giving rise to fragments that become meteoroids some to later fall to Earth as meteorites. Don Davis, Southwest Research Institute.…”

Strengthening Geochemistry through Community Action and Wider Influence

“…• An earlier report on our projects that appraised the international context of DEI challenges among Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational routes and work forces (Riches, 2020;Riches et al, 2021a); • An invited article (Pourret et al, 2021a) concerning inequities in geochemistry's current nomination and award procedures; • Proposal of a series of reforms to the nomination and award systems of the EAG and GS, incorporating broadening of the definition of a "contribution", thereby furthering an inclusive approach (akin to Davies et al, 2021) -society leaderships will soon announce agreed changes; • Expansion of the EAG Geochemical Fellow's Awards Nominations Committee to address nominations to all EAG awards; • New EAG blogs (Fernandes, 2021;Perez, 2021;Riches et al, 2021b), along with working definitions for diversity, equity, inclusion, and marginalisation (EAG DEI Committee, 2021) related to the developing DEI Strategic Plan; • An invited contribution identifying a lack of diversity among editorial boards (Pourret et al, 2021b); • Virtual keynote talks to explore the work of the DEI Committees -such invites are rotated among the team and other opportunities for friendly discussion are welcome.…”

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: tackling under-representation and recognition of talents in Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry

“…However, it was not until 2020 (following the murder of George Floyd and subsequent Black Lives Matter protests) that both GS and EAG took steps to constitute dedicated Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committees. These committees comprise diverse groups of members to coordinate dialogue with the community so as to effectively address challenges to inclusion and to promote DEI (e.g., Riches et al, 2021) , and to find solutions to problems such as the lack of equal opportunity for career development and international recognition.…”