By Rebecca Dzombak, GSA Science Communication Fellow

Geoscience stands out among STEM fields as having great potential to compel and engage people and to provide solutions to some of our planet’s most pressing problems. Climate change, contaminated soils, landslide risks, polluted air, mining byproducts: these fields may seem disparate, but at the base of almost all geoscience is a connection to society. In that context, geoscience should be for everyone: for those who are being impacted by all types of geologic processes, and for those who want to help fix problems.

But of course there are barriers to broad participation.

Soil scientist and 2019 GSA Bromery Awardee Dr. Asmeret Berhe, who on Friday is speaking about soil management and food security, says it best:

“The location and nature of the worst impacts of climate change affecting human communities is geographically delineated based on racism, and resultant slavery and colonialism. Black and brown people globally are disproportionately affected by its impacts. But, mirroring the lack of diversity in the larger community of scholars that study climate change, voices of people of color are underrepresented in some of the most important conversations around identification, prioritization, implementation, and even communication of climate change science, adaptation, and mitigation. In addition, black and brown people can’t focus our energy and resources towards addressing the existential dangers that climate change poses because we are constantly distracted by the existential threat of racism that continues to affect every fiber of our being, forcing as to continue to justify our existence, and equal rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Making geoscience more inclusive, equitable, and diverse is a task to be tackled by the entire community. What follows is a list of sessions and talks that address issues related to diversity, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in geoscience. This list is not exhaustive, but covers a range of topics and speakers throughout the duration of the conference. To be socially responsible scientists who respect and value our peers, we should prioritize listening to what diversity thought leaders have to say and work towards making the geosciences accessible to anyone who wants to explore our world with us.

Additional DEI-centered events and activities during GSA 2020 Connects Online are listed here.

For some sessions, I’ve highlighted a subset of talks, but I highly recommend you fully explore the sessions. 

Monday – 26 October

41 – T246. The Transformative Role of Field Instruction: Research on Student Experiences and Impacts on Persistence in the Geosciences and Career Intent through the Lens of Gender, Culture and Elements of Diversity

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50235

Session: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET

41-2 – HONORING THE WHOLE PERSON: ACKNOWLEDGING MULTIPLE IDENTITIES OF GEOSCIENTISTS FROM DIVERSE CULTURES

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359695

Talk: 5:45 – 6:00 p.m. ET

41-4 – THE IMPACT OF FIELD LEARNING ON DEGREE PERSISTENCE AND PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN THE GEOSCIENCES

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/356361

Talk: 6:15 – 6:30 p.m. ET

26 – T252. Geoscience and Hydrology of Your Public Lands: STEM Internships, Research, Science, Mapping, Resource Management, and Education I

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50969

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

40 – T209. It’s the Dose That Makes the Poison: Advances in Exposure and Dose Assessment for Practical Medical Geology

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50245

Session: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET

40-2 – GPS TRACKING LIVESTOCK TO INFORM POTENTIAL HUMAN EXPOSURE TO ABANDONED URANIUM MINE WASTE IN AN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY IN THE SOUTHWESTERN UNITED STATES

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359840

Talk: 

26-1 – INCREASING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION IN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE THROUGH THE MOSAICS IN SCIENCE DIVERSITY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/358328

Talk: 1:35-1:50

Tuesday – 27 October

63 – T238. Incorporating Identities to Advance Diversity throughout Geoscience Disciplines I

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50329

Session: 10:00 – 12:00 ET

63-1 – CONVERGING FOR CHANGE: MAKING SPACE FOR OUR IDENTITIES IN GEOSCIENCE

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359405

Talk: 10:05 – 10:20 a.m. (conveners)

63-2 – WHAT IS DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION WITHOUT DECOLONIZATION?: ADDRESSING HISTORICAL LEGACIES HINDERING GROWTH IN THE SCIENCES THROUGH INDIGENOUS AND COMMUNITY-BASED RESEARCH MODELS

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/354601

Talk: 10:20 – 10:35 a.m. ET

63-3 – INDIGENOUS SPEAKER SERIES – A PLATFORM PROMOTING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE, RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359834

Talk: 10:35 – 10:50 a.m. ET

63-4 – THE MIND HEARS PROVIDES A MUTUAL-MENTORING FORUM FOR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING ACADEMICS

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/354698

Talk: 10:50 – 11:05 a.m. ET

[film screening] 42 – Can We Talk: A Documentary and Facilitated Conversation on the Academic, Emotional, Social, Political, and Cultural, Hurdles to STEM Fields for People of Color

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50209

Remarks and screening: 10:00 – 12:00 ET (film screening begins at 10:20 a.m. ET)

43 – D10. Geoscience and Public Policy

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50983

Session: 10:00 – 12:00 ET

57-6 – THE CULTIVATION AND DECLINE OF HIGH-ALTITUDE WETLANDS IN THE EQUATORIAL ANDES

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/358497

Talk: 11:25 – 11:40 a.m. ET

64 – T252. Geoscience and Hydrology of Your Public Lands: STEM Internships, Research, Science, Mapping, Resource Management, and Education II

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50188

Session: 10:00 – 12:00 ET

77 – T74. Improving the Accessibility of Natural History Collections

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/49945

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

60 – T182. Novel Outcomes in the Hydrologic Sciences: Emerging Areas of Research, New Educational Approaches, Broadening Participation, and Societal Impact

Session: 10:00 – 12:00 ET

60-2 – ASSESSING RISK TO THE SOURCE WATERS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN CANADA, USA, NEW ZEALAND, AND AUSTRALIA: A SCOPING REVIEW

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/358358

Talk: 10:15 – 10:30 a.m. ET

104 – T197. Intersections of Sustainability and Geosciences

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50207

Session: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET

91 – T244. Engaged Students and Citizens Advancing Science

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50219

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

91-11 – GEOSCIENCE TO ADVANCE JUSTICE: A PEDAGOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/360098

Talk: 2:45 – 3:00 p.m. ET

90 – T239. Integrating Active Learning Strategies into College-level Geoscience Classrooms: Implementation, Effects, and “Lessons Learned”

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50336

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

90-10 – ACCESSIBLE ACTIVE LEARNING: TO WHAT EXTENT IS ACTIVE LEARNING INCLUSIVE FOR SCIENCE UNDERGRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES?

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359436

Talk: 4:00 – 4:15 p.m. ET

69 – P4. The Next Generation of Geoscience Leaders: Strategies for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/49981

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

69-3 – LOOKING FORWARD: HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE YOUNG BIPOC AND LATINX STUDENTS TO BE GEOSCIENTISTS?

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/352277

Talk: 2:05 – 2:20 p.m. ET

69-6 – MAKING A BROADER IMPACT BY ENGAGING THE GEOSCIENCE IN GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION FOR REACHING UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359144

Talk: 3:05 – 3:20 p.m. ET

Wednesday – 28 October

63 – T238. Incorporating Identities to Advance Diversity throughout Geoscience Disciplines II

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/51056

Session: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET

169-1 – CULTIVATING BELONGING BY CENTERING PEOPLE

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/355565

Talk: 5:35 – 5:50 p.m. ET

169-3 – PROGRESS MADE AND OUTSTANDING ISSUES REGARDING LGBTQ+ DIVERSITY IN THE GEOSCIENCES

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/358309

Talk: 6:05 – 6:20 p.m. ET

169-4 – COLONIALISM AND THE HISTORY OF GEOLOGY: WIDENING THE HISTORICAL LENS THROUGH WHICH WE TEACH

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/355754

Talk: 6:20 – 6:35 p.m. ET

128 – T237. Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education Beyond 2020: Individual, Department, Program, and Institutional-Level Approaches to Student Success I

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50964

Session: 10:00 – 12:00 ET

128-3 – REMOTE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES EXPAND REACH AND INCREASE DIVERSITY – A NEED TO EXPAND AND CONTINUE AFTER COVID 19

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/356348

Talk: 10:35 – 10:50 a.m. ET

139 – T90. The 2019–2020 Southwestern Puerto Rico Earthquake Sequence and the Intersection between Geoscience Research, Education, and Communication

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50072

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

152 – T236. Expanding Geoheritage Awareness in North America

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50268

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

153 – T237. Supporting and Advancing Geoscience Education Beyond 2020: Individual, Department, Program, and Institutional-Level Approaches to Student Success II

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50195

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

153-6 – MAKING THE HIDDEN CURRICULUM TRANSPARENT THROUGH 1ST YEAR COURSES FOR GEOSCIENCES GRADUATE STUDENTS

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/356008

Talk: 2:45-3:00 p.m. ET

153-7 – GEOGREXIT: STRATEGIES FOR REMOVING THE GRE AS ONE BARRIER OF ENTRY TO GEOSCIENCE GRADUATE PROGRAMS

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/353863

Talk: 3:00 – 3:15 p.m. ET

154 – T240. Teaching Field Geology without the Field: Providing a Robust Capstone Experience through Digital Resources I

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50967

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

167-6 – SOIL AND WATER PB EDUCATION IN THE TIME OF COVID AND BLACK LIVES MATTER

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/356095

Talk: 6:50 – 7:05 p.m. ET

170 – T240. Teaching Field Geology without the Field: Providing a Robust Capstone Experience through Digital Resources II

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/51075

Session: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET

Thursday – 29 October

219 – T238. Incorporating Identities to Advance Diversity throughout Geoscience Disciplines III

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50965

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

219-2 – INITIATION OF A DIVERSE MULTI-CAMPUS NETWORK TO UNDERSTAND CLIMATE AND ECOSYSTEM CHANGE

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/359853

Talk: 1:50-2:05 p.m. ET

219-8 – EXPLORING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ PATHWAYS IN EARTH SYSTEMS SCIENCE PROGRAMS AT A HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/353884

Talk: 3:40 – 3:55 p.m. ET

219-10 – GEOLATINAS BLOG: A PLACE FOR LEARNING, INSPIRING, EMPOWERING AND AMPLIFYING DIVERSE VOICES IN GEOSCIENCES

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/351246

Talk: 4:10 – 4:25 p.m. ET

220 – T240. Teaching Field Geology without the Field: Providing a Robust Capstone Experience through Digital Resources III

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50966

Session: 1:30 – 5:30 p.m. ET

235 – T240. Teaching Field Geology without the Field: Providing a Robust Capstone Experience through Digital Resources IV

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50662

Session: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. ET

Friday – 30 October

237 – P5. Challenges and Solutions for a Changing Climate: New Directions for GSA

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50278

Session: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

237-1 – ASSESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS TO LANDSCAPES AND ECOSYSTEMS: A NAVAJO EXAMPLE FROM THE SOUTHWESTERN US

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/356260

Talk: 10:05 – 10:20 a.m ET

237-15 – CENTERING NATIVE VOICES WITHIN EARTH SCIENCES: AN INQUIRY INTO OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY NATIVE STUDENTS, EARLY-CAREER SCHOLARS AND SCIENTISTS

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/356051

Talk: 1:25 – 1:30 p.m. ET

261 – T250. Expanding Opportunities in the Geosciences: Exploring Examples of GEO-STEM Learning Ecosystems that Promote Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2020AM/meetingapp.cgi/Session/50272

Session: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

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Rebecca Dzombak began her term on 1 July as the 2020–2021 GSA Science Communication Fellow.