Safety and Belonging in the Field: A Checklist for Educators

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Safety and Belonging in the Field: A Checklist for Educators

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

A comprehensive checklist that seeks to make fieldwork a “positive, generative, collective, and valuable experience for all participants.” Written by authors with a wide range of backgrounds and field experiences, this document stresses inclusivity over each step in the fieldwork process, from planning to the return and debrief.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Mental health in the field

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Mental health in the field

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

This article speaks to the importance of mental health in field work and summarizes the factors that impact mental health in the field.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Signaling Safety: Characterizing Fieldwork Experiences and Their Implications for Career Trajectories

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Signaling Safety: Characterizing Fieldwork Experiences and Their Implications for Career Trajectories

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

This study presents a qualitative analysis of field researchers’ experiences based on interviews, focusing on both positive and negative aspects of conducting academic research in the field. It identifies two main issues: unclear professional behavior guidelines at field sites and difficulties accessing professional resources and opportunities. Respondents reported a lack of consequences for breaches of conduct, such as harassment and assault, which negatively impacted their careers. The study introduces a “traffic light” model to illustrate the effects of varying clarity and access on field experiences. The findings build on previous survey results and suggest that fieldsite directors and principal investigators should adopt specific policies and procedures to enhance fieldwork experiences and promote equal opportunities.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Trigger Warning: How to Take Care

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Trigger Warning: How to Take Care

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

An anonymous contributor shares their experience with a horribly all too common problem with remote field research: sexual harassment.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Survey of Academic Field Experiences (SAFE): Trainees Report Harassment and Assault

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Survey of Academic Field Experiences (SAFE): Trainees Report Harassment and Assault

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

A survey of field scientists reveals that experiences of sexual harassment and assault are common, particularly among women trainees who are often targeted by senior team members, while male trainees face harassment from peers. Many respondents were unfamiliar with codes of conduct or reporting mechanisms and were dissatisfied with the outcomes when they did report incidents. The study highlights the need for improved policies on safety and inclusivity, better reporting mechanisms, and effective responses to harassment, with principal investigators playing a key role in shaping fieldwork culture.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Out Here, No One Can Hear You Scream: The dangerous culture of male entitlement and sexual hostility hiding within America’s national parks and forests

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Out Here, No One Can Hear You Scream: The dangerous culture of male entitlement and sexual hostility hiding within America’s national parks and forests

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

The article from the Huffington Post’s Highline section discusses incidents of gender harassment, hostility, and violence that have occurred during fieldwork within America’s national parks and forests.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Women of the Wild: Challenging Gender Disparities in Field Stations and Marine Laboratories

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Women of the Wild: Challenging Gender Disparities in Field Stations and Marine Laboratories

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Field stations and marine laboratories (FSMLs) are sentinels of Earth’s climate, providing scientists with the infrastructure to collect data in otherwise inaccessible areas of the globe. Many FSMLs were built around and continue to perpetuate male-dominated institutional ideologies, making it difficult for women, BIPOC, and those with intersecting identities to progress, succeed, and thrive. In a collaborative effort across field ecologists and communication scholars working with women navigating these spaces, this book’s priorities are to: 1) document the gender history of FSMLs; 2) provide a context for the current organizational culture and understand the current communication climate dynamics; 3) explore current barriers to leadership, success, and factors that contribute to positive communication climates in FSMLs, and 4) explore strategies, programs, and interventions for supporting women’s leadership roles, as well as, to develop best practices for policy, resource allocation, and field station design to better support and increase women’s leadership roles in FSMLs.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Navigating Gender at Sea in Advancing Earth and Space Sciences

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Navigating Gender at Sea in Advancing Earth and Space Sciences

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.

Fieldwork, including work done at sea, is a key component of many geoscientists’ careers. Recent studies have highlighted the pervasive harassment faced by women and LGBTQ+ people during fieldwork. However, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) scientists face obstacles which have not yet been thoroughly examined. The article’s authors fill this gap by sharing their experiences as TGD people. In this work, they provide recommendations for individuals, cruise leaders, and institutions for making seagoing work safer for our communities.

Chronicle of Higher education article with recommendations on centering accountability in DEI statements.