Scripps secures a $350,000 grant to fund initiatives promoting fairness, diversity, and inclusion.
In a significant move towards fostering a more inclusive environment in the field of geosciences, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) has received a $350,000 grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation. This grant will support a comprehensive outreach and recruitment program aimed at increasing diversity and inclusivity in the geosciences.
The grant forms part of the Campaign for UC San Diego, a university-wide comprehensive fundraising effort concluding on June 30, 2022. The primary goal of this grant is to recruit more underrepresented minority students to Scripps' graduate programs and address key barriers to participation in graduate school.
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) team at Scripps aims to create a more inclusive environment on campus, which is the long-term goal of their mission. The program aims to foster a diverse student pipeline in geosciences, cultivate a sense of belonging among underrepresented minority students, and help Scripps Oceanography build meaningful relationships with students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in STEM, particularly geosciences.
One of the key strategies for achieving these goals is the "Chat with a Scripps Scientist" program. This initiative targets students applying to graduate school and connects them with potential faculty advisors. The grant will also support the staffing efforts needed to accomplish the goal for inclusivity, including the employment of Carlene Burton, Scripps' Tectonorockphysics Lab Manager and Research Data Analyst, and two part-time Community Engagement Fellows.
Danielle McHaskell, a third-year marine biology PhD student and second-year Community Engagement Fellow, is involved in the "Chat with a Scripps Scientist" program and is relieved and excited about the grant. "This funding will enable us to reach more students and provide them with the support they need to succeed in our programs," she said.
Scripps Oceanography is one of the world's most important centers for global earth science research and education, offering unparalleled education and training for the next generation of scientific and environmental leaders. The geosciences field is the least diverse discipline in all of STEM fields, both at the student and scholarly levels. The geosciences have the lowest number of doctorate recipients from underrepresented students in all of the sciences.
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) recently awarded Scripps status as a partner in the AGU Bridge program, which aims to increase diversity within university geosciences departments. By addressing these issues, Scripps hopes to lead the way in creating a more inclusive environment in geosciences, setting an example for other institutions to follow.
UC San Diego embraces a culture of exploration and experimentation, being one of the top 15 research universities in the world and driving innovation and change to advance society. Learn more about Scripps Oceanography, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and UC San Diego at their respective websites.
- The grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation, a significant portion of UC San Diego's Campaign for UC San Diego, is specifically aimed to support the diversity-and-inclusion efforts in marine biology, focusing on the recruitment of underrepresented minority students to Scripps' graduate programs.
- To achieve its goals, Scripps' Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) team has devised a comprehensive program that includes the "Chat with a Scripps Scientist" outreach, as well as the employment of Carlene Burton and two Community Engagement Fellows to ensure staffing resources are allocated for inclusivity.
- Aside from the financial support, the grant's impact in fostering a more inclusive environment in the geosciences field, which is the least diverse discipline in all STEM fields, can potentially serve as a model for other institutions. This shift may encourage diversity not only in marine biology education and self-development but also in oceanographic research and business operations within the geosciences sector.
