Change Begins with Our Community 

Of all STEM fields, the geosciences are the least racially and ethnically diverse. Women remain underrepresented in geosciences careers, and people with disabilities experience barriers that exclude them from the geosciences. Until diversity is recognized as a fundamental feature of scientific excellence, the lack of an equitable, inclusive geosciences community will hamper scientific innovation and discovery.  

AGU LANDInG is addressing these needs by implementing: (1) a sustainable DEI Community of Practice, and (2) offering DEI leadership development to select cohorts of Fellows in the LANDInG Academy. Increasing capacity for DEI leadership within the geosciences while fostering recognition and value for DEI champions will improve DEI outcomes across the discipline.  

An equitable and inclusive geoscience discipline requires a systemic cultural shift. While leaders play a critical role in fostering inclusive and equitable workplaces, shifting a culture to support DEI success within any discipline requires the entire community—including both formal and informal leaders acting as champions to foster change. Our approach—promoting broad opportunities for a community of practice to learn and share resources, coupled with intensive professional development for DEI leadership—will prepare and empower geoscientists to become agents of lasting, systemic change.