Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering Network’s Experience of Unlearning Racism in Geoscience
Women in Coastal Geoscience and Engineering (WICGE) is an international network of coastal geoscientists and engineers of all genders. It is led by a committee of fourteen female academic researchers all around the world, with a membership base of over 400 individuals. Thirteen members from WICGE participated in the WICGE Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE) Pod, including two committee members. Our pod’s experience of URGE is an example of an international Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion initiative in marine science. Some lessons learnt from the WICGE’s experience of URGE give valuable insights, deepening the community’s knowledge of the effects of racism on the participation and retention of Black, Indigenous, People Of Colour (BIPOC) individuals in Geoscience. Furthermore, the key objectives of URGE to produce policy deliverables which can be implemented at each pod’s home institutions, building a large network of anti-racism initiatives worldwide. Following our URGE pod, WICGE formed a standing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee that will ensure the continuity of anti-racism work in our organization.
Dr. Siddhi Joshi 