VOICES

Voices Of Integrating Culture in the Earth Sciences

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VOICES

Voices Of Integrating Culture in the Earth Sciences

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About VOICES

Applying a social behavioral lens to examine the barriers and opportunities for underrepresented students, faculty and professionals. Awakening a greater awareness of cultural knowledge and best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion related to a sense of Identity as a scientist, Belonging within the discipline in conjunction with acknowledgements of the cultural connections to Places, and importance of a sense of Security and safety as an underrepresented person in field and classroom settings.

 

Element one: Identity

Cultural heritage can be deeply rooted in the expression of art, music, poetry, dance, and ceremony. However, Identity can also be connections to a professional discipline such as self-identifying as a scientist can be a barrier to participation in a science discipline. Reclaiming VOICES promotes an understanding of the intersectionality of diversity, culture and ability that is needed to seed a cultural shift in traditional academic perspectives.

Element two: Belonging

Belonging as a scientist and respected member of a group brings relief from the “impostor syndrome” and is tied with Identity as measures of persistence in a discipline or academic field

Belonging can be characterized by individual declarations of being a member of a group, discipline or project; while lack of belonging is often situational and captured by concepts of “otherness” or disconnection from a core group.

Element three: Place

The importance of understanding sense of place is reflected not only in the ownership of land and water resources but to the spiritual, historical and cultural connections with a place.

Landscapes have culture and that connection to culture and resident people can be elucidated by understanding the importance of Place and Traditional Knowledge that is co-created with distinct protocols, histories, languages and community practice.

Element four: Security

Security is a separate voice that is influenced by the different voices of Identity, Belonging and Place and is a critical foundation to create significant change in the Earth science experiences for underrepresented scholars.

Security is synonymous with safety in some situations; mostly, these terms can have different meanings when viewed through the lens of culture, gender, race, sexual orientation and disability.