We write in solidarity with our colleagues in the USA and internationally, who are suffering as efforts to increase equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) are systematically eroded and destroyed.
It is imperative to defend EDI principles at the national and the international level. Without efforts to diversify polar science, we will lose the best and brightest talent that will enable a swift, strategic and agile response to global environmental challenges.
We as polar scientists are motivated to explore and understand some of the grandest environmental challenges on earth, ranging from climate change, melting of glaciers and ice sheets, sea level rise, ecosystem change, droughts, oceanic and atmospheric circulation, sea ice change, and high mountain and polar hazards. These processes are impacting societies worldwide. Clear sighted future forecasts are needed to adapt to these changes and mitigate against the worst of the impacts.
Solving these grand environmental challenges requires the very best and very brightest minds. Diversity in polar science is critical because differing minds, experiences and opinions brings innovation and originality. Communities with closed minds that exclude or make unwelcome contributors on the basis of any of their personal characteristics will fail to recruit and retain the very best and very brightest.
A community where all are welcome, where scientists are respected and included regardless of gender, ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, nationality and disability, is critical if we are to have the imagination, innovation and creativity to solve these crises. Furthermore, unless we as a scientific community reflect the global communities that we serve, we fail to fully understand the impacts and consequences of these grand environmental challenges. However, many of these groups remain underrepresented in polar science, inhibiting our ability for innovative, flexible and original work.
‘Diversity’ is not to blame for the world’s problems. It is part of the solution.
Equality
Equality in polar science means equality of opportunity, regardless of their personal characteristics or background. Equity means that everyone is treated fairly, by removing barriers or opportunities faced by some particular groups in society.
In Polar Science, this can mean fieldwork codes of conduct, protocols for reporting and dealing with harassment and bullying, and understanding the different needs of people based on their personal characteristics. This can involve clothing, toilet facilities, religious facilities, quiet rooms, etc.
Diversity
Diversity in polar science means recognising and valuing people’s different backgrounds, knowledge, skills and experiences.
In Polar Science this can mean outreach events and programmes to engage with underrepresented groups, challenging stereotypes, role modelling and mentoring, and ring-fenced funding, internships and scholarships.
Inclusion
Inclusion in polar science means that the differences between people and groups are seen as a benefit, where people feel comfortable to share their perspectives and differences, and know that their opinions are valued.
Polar science is a global endeavour and relies on international scientific cooperation. The Antarctic Treaty now has 58 national signatories; membership continues to grow. Polar Science should represent the global community since everyone is impacted by changes in the Arctic, Antarctic and high mountain areas.
Inclusion in Polar Science means making all communities feel welcome and valued, whether through initiatives and celebrations such as LGBTQ+ in STEM Day and Polar Pride, Women in Science Day, Day of People with Disabilities, and through guides and training on inclusive behaviours.
We stand by our colleagues
We stand by our global colleagues and remain deeply committed to EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) principles, and to building a scientific community that is diverse, inclusive and equitable as well as original, adaptable and insightful.
Join us in calling for stronger commitments to diversity, to defend EDI protocols and laws, and to strengthen EDI requirements and commitments for future generations.
We stand in solidarity
If you are a polar scientist and you want to join us in standing in solidarity and add your name to this post, email Bethan Davies.
Signed in a personal capacity, and not as representatives of our institutions:
- Professor Bethan Davies, Newcastle University
- Professor Dan Shugar, University of Calgary
- Professor James Lea, Liverpool University
- Dr Jeremy Ely, University of Sheffield
- Dr Harold Lovell, Portsmouth University
- Dr Danni Pearce, Norwegian University of Life Sciences
- Professor Alessandro Tagliabue, University of Liverpool
- Dr David Rippin, University of York
- Dr Tim Lane, Aarhus University
- Professor Anson Mackay, UCL (Emeritus)
- Dr Lorna Linch, Brighton University
- Dr Christopher Darvill, Manchester University
- Dr Sam Roberson, British Geological Survey
- Steven Gibbons, Norwegian Geotechnical Institute
- Professor Nina Kirchner, Director of Tarfala Research Station
- Connie Harpur, PhD student, University of Leeds
- Professor Ian Brooks, University of Leeds
- Professor Michael Bentley, Durham University
- Dr. Anna Ruth Halberstadt, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin
- Dr Cathy Delaney, Manchester Metropolitan University
- Professor Hester Jiskoot, University of Lethbridge
- Maraina Miles, PhD candidate, University of Maine
- Prof. Jacob Downs, Research Professor, University of Montana
- Professor Andrew Sheppard, CPOM / Northumbria University
- Professor Rob Bingham, Edinburgh University
- Dr Stephen Roberts, Quaternary geoscientist, British Antarctic Survey
- Dr Sammie Buzzard, Northumbria University
- Professor David Thomas, University of Helsinki
- Dr Roger Creel, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
- Professor Martin Siegert, University of Exeter
- Dr Joseph Shea, University of of Northern British Columbia
- Holly Wytiahlowsky, PhD Student, Durham University
- Dr Jaime Otero, Edinburgh University
- Professor Andrew J. Dugmore FRSGS, School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh
- Millicent Harding, PhD student, Durham University
- Dr Felicity McCormack, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Dr David Small, Durham University
- Dr Helen Millman, Exeter University
- Amy McElroy, student, Colorado State University
- Assoc. Prof Gina Moseley, Rolex Award for Enterprise Laureate, Greenland Expedition Leader, IMAX Ancient Caves, University of Innsbruck
- Dr Jenna Sutherland, Leeds Beckett University
- Dr Andy Emery, Wessex Archaeology
- Dr Ramon Pellitero, National Distance Education University
- Dr Geraint Jenkins, Coventry University
- Dr James Bradley, CNRS Researcher, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, Marseille, France
- Dr Liam Taylor, University of Leeds
- Dr Owen King, Newcastle University
- Dr Huw Griffiths, British Antarctic Survey
- Dr Bella Duncan, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Dr Alison Banwell, University of Colorado Boulder
- Dr Robert McNabb, Ulster University
- Ethan Carr, PhD Student, University of Colorado Boulder
- Kaushal Kumar
- Dr Clare Boston, Portsmouth University
- Dr Frances Butcher, Sheffield University
- Dr Evan Gowan, Kumamoto University
- Prof. Elin Darelius, University of Bergen
- Prof. Ian Hall, Cardiff University
- Dr Angelika Renner, Institute of Marine Research, Norway
- Dr Jenny Arthur, Norsk Polar Institute
- Dr Alastair Curry, University of Hertfordshire
- Derek Teasdale
- Professor Daniel le Heron, University of Vienna
- Dr Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries, Assistant Professor in Natural Hazards, Departments of Geography & Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
- Dr Fabian Drenkhan, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
- Dr. Beatriz Recinos Riva, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland
- Professor Stewart Jamieson, Durham University
- Dr Ethan Lee, Sheffield University
- Dr Fabien Maussion, Bristol University
- Amy Swiggs, PhD student, Northumbria University
- Dr Rosie Archer, Northumbria University
- Dr Rebecca McCerery, Northumbria University
- Dr Jo Zanker, Northumbria University
- Dr Roseanna Mayfield, Nottingham University
- Dr Scott J. Davidson, University of Plymouth
- Harry Davis, PhD student, The University of Edinburgh
- Dr Ronja Reese, Northumbria University
- Dr Guy Paxman, Durham University
- Clara Nyqvist, PhD Candidate, The University of Edinburgh
- Dr Alethea Mountord, Northumbria University
- Dr Dan Parker, UCL/PLOS One
- Dr Julia Smith Wellner, University of Houston
- Dr Miriam Jackson, Eurasia and Nordic Director at ICCINET
- Dr Scott Watson, University of Leeds
- Dr Jonathan Wille, ETH Zurich
- Dr Sam Kelley, University College Dublin
- Prof. Mauri Pelto, Nichols College, USA
- Dr Mike Prior-Jones, Cardiff University
- Dr Becky Sanderson, Newcastle University
- Isabelle Wicks, PhD student, Northumbria University
- Dr Emma C Smith, University of Leeds
- Ryan Ing, PhD student, The University of Edinburgh
- Professor Andy Russell, Newcastle University
- Dr Rachel Oien, Durham University
- Dr Sian Henley, Deputy Head of Global Change Research Institute, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh
- Dr. Anders Bjørk, University of Copenhagen
- Dr Celeste Labedz, University of Chicago
- Rose Leeger, PhD student, CU Boulder
- Prof. Chris Jackson, Imperial College
- Dr Kristen Cook, Université Grenoble Alpes, EGU Geomorphology Division President
- Dr Margaret Jackson, Trinity College Dublin
- Dr. Michael MacFerrin, University of Colorado at Boulder
- Professor Christina Hulbe, University of Otago, New Zealand
- Cory Port, PhD student, Monash University, Australia
- Dr Arwyn Edwards, Aberystwyth University
- Dr Emma Cooper, Monash University, Australia
- Prof. Mark Brandon, Open University
- Prof. Liane G. Benning, GFZ, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany
- Dr Kate Winter, Northumbria University
- Dr. Ryan Cassotto, University of Colorado Boulder
- Dr Andy Hein, The University of Edinburgh
- Dr Ruth Mottram, Danish Research Institute
- Dr Max Brils, Northumbria University
- Dr Jeremy Bassis, University of Michigan
- Joey Schnaubelt, PhD student, University of Connecticut
- Andrew Colquhoun, PhD student, Northumbria University
- Dr Benjamin Laabs, North Dakota State University
- Dr Nico Dewald, British Geological Survey
- Dr Christine Batchelor, Newcastle University
- Professor Neil Arnold (he/him), Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge
- Dr Louise Callard, Newcastle University
- Dr Rebecca Dell, Cambridge University
- Dr Tom Chudley, Durham University
- Dr Lindsey Nicholson, Innsbruck University
- Dr Chris Stringer, University of Leeds
- Thomas Bauska, Royal Society University Research Fellow, British Antarctic Survey
- Professor Ian Willis, Cambridge University
- Dr. William Colgan, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland
- Dr. Annika Horlings, University of Colorado Boulder
Further reading
One more time: why diversity leads to better team performance. Forbes
What is DEI and why is it dividing America? CNN (DEI: Diversity, Equality and Inclusion)