About ADVANCEGeo

Person in outdoor setting We take a multi-level approach to transform workplace climate (sensu De Welde and Stepnick, 2015): at the institutional level, by addressing academic cultures through the leadership of scientific societies and on campus efforts; structurally, through policies and processes that guide professional conduct and response to sexual and other types of harassment; and individually, through education and empowerment of all members of our community.

The aims of our first award (2017-2022) were to:

  1. Collect and analyze data on workplace climate experiences in the geosciences and ecological sciences.
  2. Develop and test bystander intervention training programs with discipline-relevant scenarios and that incorporate intersectionality.
  3. Develop modules on sexual misconduct and bullying for use in research ethics training.
  4. Disseminate training workshops, webinars, and teaching modules via partnership with professional societies.
  5. Develop a sustainable model that can be transferred to other STEM disciplines.

Our work initially focused on the geosciences or earth and space sciences. A supplemental award expanded our work into the ecological and biological sciences. Organizational partners in the first phase of ADVANCEGeo includes: American Geophysical Union, Association for Women Geoscientists, Earth Science Women's Network, Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, Ecological Society of America, Long-Term Ecological Research Network, Animal Behavior Society, and the Evolution Societies.

 

Our second award (2022-2025) aims to:

  1. Develop and test a workplace climate intervention program for academic departments and future faculty training programs.
  2. Develop and test a train-the-trainers certification and capacity-building program to engage and activate STEM leaders. 
  3. Develop and disseminate scaffolded online resources related to improving workplace climate for broad STEM audiences.
  4. Implement a plan for sustained national impact in partnership with professional associations.

 

ADVANCEGeo Partners

New and ongoing partners for phase 2 include: American Geophysical Union (AGU); Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG); Earth Science Women's Network (ESWN); Geological Society of America (GSA); American Meteorological Society (AMS); the NSF-funded Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network Office; BlackInGeoscience (BiG) Network; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geosciences (AAPIiG); GeoLatinas; Society of Latinxs/Hispanics in Earth and Space Science (SOLESS); and 500 Women Scientists (500WS).