Authors
Alexandra M Padilla (CIRES), Alice F Hill (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research), Anne U Gold (CIRES), Allison Mattheis (California State University), Blair Schneider (Kansas Geological Survey, University of Kansas), Emily G Ward (CIRES), Erika Marín-Spiotta (University of Wisconsin - Madison), Kristy Tiampo (CIRES), Mariama C Dryák-Vallies (CIRES), Meredith Hastings (Brown University), Mylène Jacquemart (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Zurich), Ryan Cassotto (CIRES)

Abstract

Harassment and discrimination in field sciences are not new, but widespread recognition of their prevalence and harm has led to demands for cultural change and increased training and preparation (Clancy et al. 2014; Fischer et al. 2021; Mervis 2022). Science team culture is particularly important in remote field environments where traditional support systems are emotionally and physically distant. FieldSafe (CU-Boulder) and the NSF-funded ADVANCEGeo Partnership (Marín-Spiotta et al. 2022) have partnered to create ADVANCEing FieldSafety (AFS), a widely accessible training program and resource hub for field research programs to enact cultural change in preparation for successful field campaigns. The main elements of our training include risk assessment, implementation of codes of conduct, allyship training, bystander intervention, and evidence-based practices for effective mentorship informed by an intersectional framework. A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will be available in 2024 allowing easy access and broad participation. The MOOC will have both participation (online, self-paced) and certification pathways (participation + facilitated debriefs/reflections) that will help field teams meet NSF’s new Proposal and Award Policies & Procedures Guide field safety and anti-harassment mitigation requirement (NSF 2023). An easily adaptable risk and harassment mitigation AFS toolkit is also in development such that references and resources can be easily taken into the field. Finally, we are conducting mixed-methods research to assess the effectiveness of the AFS training for participants and for implementing the management and support structures in field situations offered through the AFS toolkit resources. The geosciences will be stronger when we, as a community, proactively work to create norms of supportive, safe group culture armed with tools that promote anti-harassment and early intervention of exclusionary behaviors. We welcome you to join us!