Departmental DEI initiatives and the IDEA committee

Committee goals

Inclusivity: Cultivate a culture of inclusion within EPS so that all departmental citizens can thrive as members of our community. Maintain a commitment to the free exchange of ideas and tolerance for diverse points of view. Sponsor events to encourage relationship building and the development of informal mentoring networks.

Outreach: Engage with and support the New Haven community through events, talks, and collaborations with community organizations.

Communication and Accessibility: Promote awareness of events on campus and in the community that discuss inclusion, diversity, equity, anti-racism, and anti-discrimination from many perspectives, and ensure that EPS events and opportunities are accessible.

Education: Provide opportunities for education on inclusion, diversity, equity, anti-racism, and anti-discrimination in geoscience, through colloquia, workshops, reading group opportunities, and other events offered through EPS and through Yale University. Foster open discussion, analysis, and debate, ensuring that diverse opinions are heard.

Recruitment and retention: Explore ways to cultivate diversity (among many dimensions) in applicant pools for the EPS graduate program and other positions in the department. Cultivate a collaborative, diverse, inclusive, and supportive community of scholars in EPS as a means of retaining our outstanding talent.

Recent and ongoing committee activities

EPS townhalls and workshops: The committee sponsors occasional townhall community discussions and workshops on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

EPS departmental colloquia: The IDEA committee works with the departmental colloquium committee to identify speakers who address issues related to diversity and equity, and to ensure a diverse slate of speakers (along many dimensions) each semester.

IDEA Reading Group: The committee sponsors a reading group that is open to all EPS department members, with topics chosen by participants.

Public outreach: IDEA facilitates participation by EPS community members in various outreach efforts, much of it in consultation with the Yale University Science Outreach and Public School Partnerships offices. IDEA proposed the structure for the EPS Public Outreach/DEI Graduate Fellowships; for more information, see the Fellowships tab.

DEI and the EPS graduate program: IDEA works closely with the departmental Director of Graduate Studies on initiatives to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in our graduate program. We are working to recruit and retain a student body that is diverse along many dimensions.

DEI initiatives in science at Yale: IDEA has been involved in proposing initiatives above the departmental level, including liaising with DEI groups throughout Yale, and working closely with the Dean of Diversity in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

The goal of the EPS IDEA Working Groups and Reading Group, formed in Fall 2020, is to provide a forum for learning, discussing and acting upon issues related to inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism. The IDEA Reading Group is currently lead by the IDEA Working Groups. Current working groups are: 

1. The Disability, Mental Health & Chronic Illness Working Group (DiMhCi). Current coordinators Ashley Arroyo (ashley.arroyo@yale.edu) and Jonathan Wolf (jonathan.wolf@yale.edu)
2.  International Community/First Generation student Working Group (IC-FG).  Current coordinator Jingjun Liu (jingjun.liu@yale.edu) 
3. Womxn in Earth and Planetary Sciences at Yale (WEPSY).  A mentoring, professional development, and support network for all women and nonbinary EPS department members. We sponsor monthly mentoring meetings, social events, and an annual EPS Women in Science Day. Current coordinator Jenn Kasbohm (jennifer.kasbohm@yale.edu)

Past reading group topics include:

Race and racism in the geosciences, diversity and inclusion in the field, Yale and New Haven, discussion of “picture a scientist,”, specificity and segregation, demographics and faculty hiring, and the URGE (Unlearning Racism in Geoscience) program.

Contact the IDEA committee with questions or ideas for future topics.

The EPS Department is proud to offer post-candidacy graduate students the opportunity to carry out meaningful projects in public outreach or other DEI activities via the EPS Public Outreach/DEI Graduate Fellowships. These fellowships take the place of teaching fellowship assignments for some EPS graduate students and come with a time commitment of 8-10 hours per week for one semester.  Participation in the Public Outreach/DEI Fellowship program will be by application.  The application process for fellowships is posted below and will also be distributed to graduate students via email.

Application

Please see the application document for more detail on the EPS Public Outreach/DEI Graduate Fellowship.  Completed applications and project partner support letters should be sent via email to Dave Evans(david.evans@yale.edu), IDEA committee chair, by June 20, 2023. 

Questions?

Students who have questions, who are unsure how to go about crafting a project plan, or who would like to get feedback on a project idea are encouraged to contact the DGS or the IDEA committee for advice, discussion, or ideas – feel free to get in touch with the chair or any member of the committee.

Documenting institutional and departmental demographics is necessary to measure progress toward creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. We are publishing existing demographic data collected by the Yale Office of Institutional Research (OIR) to help attain the goals stated by Yale’s Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI). Although these data are imperfect (e.g., gender is collected from within a binary framework, racial categories are overly broad, there are no data on country of origin, socio-economic status, disability status, nor religion), alternative approaches, such as departmental surveys, would likely yield incomplete data. Therefore, we publish this data as a starting point, knowing that it does not account for many of the dimensions of diversity that the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences values.

Links to data

Facts and Statistics from OIR

Common Dataset from OIR

Faculty Demographics

All data from OIR

Graduate Student Demographics

Office of International Students & Scholars Statistics and Reports 

IDEA News

May 25, 2023 - The EPS Department hosted its second of a series of STEM outreach events for New Haven area middle school students and parents.  

May 10, 2023 – The Department is delighted to award our inaugural EPS-IDEA Prize to Dr. Jennifer Kasbohm for her sustained contributions to our reading group discussions, organizing the WEPSY (Womxn at EPS at Yale) working group activities including numerous events and symposia, and contributing fundamentally to our recently adopted Field Code of Conduct. 

April 18, 2023 – The Department hosted the 4^th annual Women in EPS Day, showcasing the amazing work done by scientists who identify as women and gender minorities.  The keynote speaker was Professor Rachel Bernard from Amherst College.

March 15, 2023 - WEPSY (Womxn in EPS at Yale) hosted a discussion of Ranganathan et al. 2021 (for reference, see the press release accompanying the paper).

February 17, 2023 – The International Community-First Generation students (IC-FG) working group met to discuss a paper by Han et al. (2015) on why international students in the U.S. choose to stay or leave the country after graduation.

February 9, 2023 – The International Community-First Generation students (IC-FG) working group met via zoom to discuss the recent NSF Waterman Lecture by Daniel Larremore on faculty demographics and hiring.

January, 2023 - The IDEA committee selected Isabella Chiaravalloti as the EPS Public Outreach/DEI Graduate Fellow for the Spring 2023 semester.  Isabella, who is a descendant of the Tangirnaq Native Village, will be writing articles for the Koniag Education Foundation’s website and newsletter, as well as offering advice to interested KEF scholars, to work on increasing Native presence in academia. She will also identify and propose solutions for issues inhibiting Native recruitment and retention in Yale’s EPS Department. 

November, 2022 - The IDEA Committee created an anonymous online “comment box” where anyone in EPS can make suggestions for IDEA to consider.  

October 27, 2022 – The International Community-First Generation students (IC-FG) working group met to discuss challenges and obstacles faced by international students and scholars who could be separated from their overseas families for years at a time.

August 23, 2022 – Yale EPS sponsored an all-day Wilderness First Aid training session to promote field skills accessible to every member of the department regardless of background or financial ability.

May 13, 2022 - The IDEA committee and the Disability, Mental Health, and Chronic Illness (DiMhCi) Working Group held a town hall meeting to present and discuss the results from the recent departmental wellness survey that was designed and run by the DiMhCi group.

February 23, 2022 - Yale EPS hosted Prof. Christine Williams of the University of Texas at Austin, for a departmental colloquium talk titled “Gaslighted: How the Oil and Gas Industry Shortchanges Women Scientists.” 

Jan 26, 2022 - The EPS field code of conduct was approved in the department faculty meeting. 

Jan 21, 2022 - The IDEA committee announced Kelsey Jenkins as the EPS Public Outreach/DEI Graduate Fellow. Kelsey will work with Peabody Museum scientists and educators on ensuring the new displays are inclusive in their scope and presentation. 

September, 22, 2021 - Yale EPS hosted Eleanour Snow, US Geological Survey, for a colloquium talk titled, “Education, Outreach, Mentoring, Diversity: A Path Through Academia to Public Service.”

June 9, 2021 - The IDEA committee has announced Roxanne Armfield as the inaugural EPS Public Outreach/DEI Graduate Fellow. Roxanne will hold her fellowship during the Fall 2021 semester. Her project will produce a series of interactive online articles, published weekly, highlighting specimens from the Peabody collections through the stories and emotional connections of those who work with them. The IDEA committee was highly impressed with Roxanne’s project proposal and we are excited to see this important work go forward this fall.  The IDEA committee will put out another call for proposals in the Fall 2021 semester for graduate students who are interested in applying for a fellowship for the Spring 2022 semester. Please reach out to the IDEA committee with questions and more information about potential projects. 

March 23, 2021 – IDEA and EPS announce a new initiative offering semester-long Public Outreach/DEI Fellowships for students in our graduate program. The fellowship program will enable Fellows to allocate a substantial fraction of their work time to projects that are centered on public outreach and/or diversity, equity, and inclusion. Application details can be found on the Public Outreach/DEI Fellowships tab.

January 28, 2021 – A group of 16 graduate students, faculty, and postdoctoral/research scientists in EPS are participating in the URGE (Unlearning Racism in Geosciences) program this semester.

October 26, 2020 – Yale FAS Science and Engineering sponsored an event titled “Toward Inclusion,” featuring a panel and moderated breakout discussions. The event was co-sponsored by the FAS Senate Diversity Committee and the Women’s Faculty Forum.

October 22, 2020 – A group of EPS faculty, students, and researchers met with representatives from the Yale Office of Public School Partnerships and from Yale’s Pathways to Science program to discuss ways that EPS can engage more fully in public outreach activities. Stay tuned for future announcements as this aspect of IDEA-sponsored activities takes shape!

October 20, 2020 – Along with the Yale Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, the Wright Laboratory, and Yale Astronomy, EPS sponsored a special seminar by Dr. Kuheli Dutt of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory/Columbia University. The talk was titled “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Addressing Systemic Racism in STEM.”

September 30, 2020 – The office of the Yale FAS Dean of Science and Engineering is sponsoring a free viewing of “Picture a Scientist,” which tells the stories and experiences of challenges faced by three women in science.

September 9, 2020 – Dr. Larry Gladney, who is Professor of Physics and Phyllis A. Wallace Dean of Diversity and Faculty Development in the FAS, gave a colloquium talk to the EPS community.  

June 30, 2020 – IDEA sponsored a departmental townhall to discuss the ongoing widespread protests and the history and legacy of racial discrimination in the U.S. and to highlight departmental DEI initiatives.

Below is a list of groups and organizations that are involved in outreach and education efforts at Yale and beyond. We will be updating this list and adding resources and links; feel free to email the IDEA committee with ideas and suggestions.

Yale Affinity groups

Peabody EVOLUTIONS Program

Yale Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

Girl’s Science Investigations

Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS)

Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Solar Youth

Yale Pathways to Science

Complaints and Reporting Policy for Yale University and the EPS Department

This information outlines mechanisms within the Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) Department and across Yale University for reporting discrimination or harassment of any kind. There are multiple avenues for reporting discrimination or harassment, both within and outside the department, and community members should use whatever avenue, or combination of avenues, for reporting they are most comfortable with.

Reporting mechanisms for discrimination and harassment complaints: Within EPS

Within the EPS Department, the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism/Anti-Discrimination) Committee can lend advice, support, and guidance if there is a need to report instances of discrimination. However, the committee does not have an official reporting mechanism or disciplinary power. Community members are also encouraged to bring complaints or issues to the Department Chair, the Directors of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies, the Director of Postdoctoral Affairs, and/or to any faculty member on campus.

Department Chair:  Maureen Long

IDEA Committee Chair: David Evans

Director of Graduate Studies: Derek Briggs

Director of Undergraduate Studies:Pincelli Hull

Director of Postdoctoral Affairs: Jun Korenaga

It is important to understand that all Yale faculty members are obligated to report any Title IX violations disclosed to them to the University Title IX office. However, this reporting obligation does not mean that faculty are obligated to disclose the identity of the person who reported the incident to them or the identity of any of the parties involved. Reports can be anonymized before reporting to the Title IX office at the request of the person who disclosed the incident, and no names are shared with the Title IX office without the consent of the disclosing or reporting party. The mandate to report incidents to the Title IX office extends to graduate students and postdoctoral scientists only when they are serving as part-time acting instructors, teaching fellows, or in similar institutional roles, with respect to the students they are currently teaching or supervising.

Reporting mechanisms for discrimination and harassment complaints: Outside EPS

At Yale University, racial discrimination and sexual harassment reporting policy can be found at https://oiea.yale.edu/policies-and-programs. Racial discrimination or harassment complaints can be reported to both the Dean’s Designee and/or the Office of Institutional Equity and Access (OIEA). These groups may then employ a variety of means to help resolve concerns. These include (1) discussing options and providing support; (2) facilitating a mediated resolution through discussion and engagement; (3) providing training and education; (4) conducting a factual inquiry; or (5) conducting a formal investigation.

Talking about a problem with a member of the OIEA is not part of any formal grievance procedure, but the Senior Director can investigate a solution and help to resolve problems informally. The Office informs individuals about the availability of the University’s grievance procedures for students and employees. In cases in which the individual is not within a group of persons to which a formal grievance procedure applies, the Office will review a complaint. All inquiries are treated in a confidential manner. Learn about the procedures.

In all cases, the first step for a Yale student seeking to report discrimination or harassment is always the same: contact either your Dean’s Designee or the OIEA. These two resources will work with you to further explain your options and the processes for addressing your concerns. Students (and other community members) can also make a complaint or report within the EPS Department by contacting the Department Chair, the Directors of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies, and/or Director of Postdoctoral Affairs.

According to Yale, “In many cases, complaints can be resolved informally through discussion-based resolution. If you want to file a formal complaint, you should work with the Office of Institutional Equity and Access which will review the options with you.” 

All complaints addressed to the OIEA can be made by email or in person with an appointment. At the moment, there is no anonymized way to report these complaints. In-person appointment requests and emails should be directly addressed to the Office of Institutional Equity and Access Senior Director Valarie Stanley. Information about the complaints process .

There is no information on the process by which bystanders may file a report with Yale if they observe an act of racial discrimination. Within the department, bystanders are encouraged to bring concerns to the Department Chair, the Directors of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies, and/or Director of Postdoctoral Affairs.

Students, faculty, or staff with complaints or concerns related to disability or age discrimination are also encouraged to contact Valarie Stanley (valarie.stanley@yale.edu). Again, reporting within the department is also encouraged.

For sexual harassment, information about assistance and support, reporting an incident, and policies can be found at our Title IX office. 

Yale Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences Code of Conduct in the Field

An important part of the research and teaching mission of the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences (EPS) is conducted away from campus, often in remote and isolated locales (the “field,” for short). Many of us find field work rewarding in ways different from the satisfaction that we get from regular laboratory or office work. Field work can be unusual, sometimes unpredictable; it takes place in non-campus settings; it lets us enjoy the great outdoors; it cultivates the camaraderie of participants. These are all aspects that may make field work seem out of the ordinary. However, field work is still work, and it takes place in a professional setting.            

Field safety is every bit as important as lab safety; this is true for all participants wherever field research or instruction is conducted, for whatever purpose. Yale University’s Policy on Environmental Health & Safety applies while traveling and in the field, as it does on campus.        

Field work is also a privilege. By enabling, and in many cases funding, field trips and excursions, the EPS Department allows students, employees, and faculty to conduct field work. This privilege is contingent on departmental community members conducting themselves in a manner that allows for a safe, inclusive, respectful, accessible environment for all participants. 

Our departmental Code of Conduct in the Field is meant to supplement Yale’s Policy on Environmental Health & Safety for the particular circumstances under which field work is conducted. It articulates policies and guidelines for all participants, including trip leaders. Consequences for violating these policies are articulated in the document and can include, in extreme circumstances, prohibitions on leading or participating in future field excursions. 

The Code of Conduct in the Field is also a compact between all of us, as a community. By participating in an EPS field trip, participants agree to abide by the policies and guidelines and to uphold the shared values articulated in this document.

To the greatest extent possible, the Department seeks to make the field an inclusive and accessible educational environment. Prior to selecting field localities, trip leaders should carry out a region- and activity-specific risk assessment, paying particular attention to whether or not a given location is safe and welcoming for all participants, regardless of their personal characteristics (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender, disability, etc.).

Upon the conclusion of all field excursions, all participants will be given the opportunity to fill out an anonymous questionnaire that will gather feedback on their experiences and provide an avenue for suggesting improvements or reporting of any inappropriate behavior.

The Field Code provides a list of preparations that must be made by trip participants and leaders. Leaders and participants in field expeditions should use the Code as a set of guidelines in preparing for the trip, with adequate time and consideration for all aspects of the trip planning. These preparations are separate from—but equal in importance to—the scientific preparations that participants make for field excursions.

****************

It is expected that the trip leader(s) will organize a pre-trip meeting for all participants, going through the Code in depth, and making sure all participants are familiar with its contents.

****************

Yale Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences Code of Conduct in the Field

This code provides guidelines for respectful and safe behavior on EPS field trips. It conforms to Yale University’s Policy on Environmental Health & Safety and is also tailored to EPS-specific circumstances. The guidelines apply to all trip participants.

·   If I am a trip leader, I have

• Carefully considered safety aspects in the selection of field localities, and discussed region- and activity-specific risks with all participants.
• Created an itinerary for the trip (to the best of my ability) and shared it with the EPS emergency contact for this trip and all trip participants.
• Considered the level of physical activity appropriate to the group, and shared this plan with all participants. 
• Engaged with participants needing disability-related accommodations on how I can help them learn and thrive in the field.
• Tailored the EPS field trip packing list shared with all participants to our specific destination.
• Committed to promote the safety and comfort of all trip participants, including providing specialized safety gear where appropriate (e.g., reflective vests for busy road sites, hard hats for cliff hazards), stopping for bathroom breaks as requested, and making sure drivers can safely drive (with adequate sleep and backup drivers when possible).
• Participated in a Wilderness First Aid class, or received and documented similar training obtained elsewhere, as appropriate for the field conditions.
• Committed, to the best of my ability, to lead by example in upholding every item in this Code of Conduct.

For all participants:

·   I have had the opportunity to discuss any issues with trip organizers and fellow travelers. In order to prepare for my trip, I have been made aware in advance of training options in which I could partake to increase my comfort level and experience. I have reviewed the information enclosed in the accompanying trip preparation packet and have filled out the required medical and dietary questionnaires. In good faith, I have provided the trip leader(s), on a confidential basis, with any medical information that may be relevant to my health and safety in the field.

·   I have been given and have reviewed the itinerary. I have been made aware of country- and culture-specific issues which may affect my personal comfort and safety, and accept the risks as they have been described to me. However, as stated below, I may request to be removed from the field if I find the environment unsafe. 

·   I have an expectation of access to first-aid materials and supplies, and expect leaders and possibly fellow travelers (including myself) to be trained in how to use them. Examples of adequate training include, but are not limited to: First Responder and CPR Training certificates, Outdoor & Wilderness Guide certificates, the Yale Driver Safety course, etc.

·   I have an expectation of access to personal space, free from bullying or harassment. I cannot be compelled into situations where a power imbalance could cause harm or unreasonable discomfort. I can give input and feedback on group assignments and activities.

·   I have an expectation of access to personal care. While I understand that hygienic facilities may be below campus standards, I have a right to sanitation, resting and sleeping arrangements that make the best of local circumstances. I am comfortable with the field-site specific constraints as communicated to me.

·   I have an expectation of access to adequate nourishment, and at no point should I be forced or feel compelled to partake in the consumption of alcohol, for which alternatives must always be available. I have had the opportunity to communicate and make arrangements for dietary restrictions and medical needs by filling out a pre-departure questionnaire, an example of which is provided here.

·   I expect to be given the means to contact and notify a campus advocate in case an inappropriate or dangerous situation arises. I expect to have access to communication (via cell phone or satellite phone, as appropriate) in a private place as needed, with no questions asked. I have the expectation that my campus advocates will have the power and means to extricate me from any dangerous situations and with any related expenses reimbursed by the department, Yale University, or affiliated insurance organizations. I have saved the contact information for the EPS on-campus contact for this trip and I understand the confidential and non-confidential avenues for reporting that are explained in this document.

·   I expect that I will be able to be heard, to file a complaint, and to receive assistance, about any aspects of my field experience that did not comply with the policies articulated by Yale’s Policy on Environmental Health & Safety or this Code of Conduct in the Field.

·   I will not engage in any of the following unacceptable behaviors:

• Harassment, sexual harassment, bullying, or discrimination in any form. This includes, but is not limited to: verbal comments related to gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, physical appearance, body size, race, religion, national origin, or socioeconomic status; inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces; threatening or stalking any participant.
• Physical or verbal abuse of any participant or community member. 
• Reckless behavior that would endanger me or others.
• Drinking or using other legal intoxicants to the extent that my ability to act professionally is compromised.
• Any use of illegal substances.

·   If I allow, enable, or engage in any of the aforementioned unacceptable behaviors, the consequences may include (but are not limited to): 

• Immediate removal from the field.
• Prohibition on my leading or participating in future EPS-sponsored field excursions.
• Notification of my supervisor and department leadership. 
• Mediation and counseling.
• University-mandated consequences resulting from investigations by Title IX of the Office of Institutional Equity and Access.

Following the conclusion of the field excursion, participants will be encouraged to fill out a brief post-trip survey, which will help departmental leaders evaluate how well the trip conformed to the policies laid out in the Code. The department provides a template survey, although trip leaders may wish to modify some questions to suit their particular trip. Participants are also encouraged to make use of reporting avenues outside of the EPS department to report any problematic behavior; a summary of available reporting avenues is available on the department website. 

Mechanisms for Contact and Reporting

If you have been a victim of a violation of local laws, it may be pertinent to contact local law enforcement. To discuss whether the Code of Conduct in the Field is being met, or to report a violation thereof, engage the field leader, another member of the field party, the Chair or the Director of Graduate Studies, or the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

For this particular trip to _______________________________, on the dates of _____________________the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences campus contact is__________________________________________________.

The persons above are not confidential resources and may be mandated to report incidents. If you are not comfortable reporting to any of the above points of contact, do not hesitate to contact the support services at Yale University, listed below.

Yale University Confidential Resources

Confidential Resources are support and advocacy services on Campus that are available for consultation and reporting. Information shared with Confidential Resources (including information about whether an individual has received services) will only be disclosed to the Title IX Coordinator or any other person with the individual’s express written permission, unless there is an imminent threat of serious harm to the individual or to others, or a legal obligation to reveal such information.               

Sexual Harassment and Assault Response & Education Center (SHARE)

55 Lock Street, Lower Level

New Haven CT 06511

24-hr hotline: (203)432-2000; https://sharecenter.yale.edu/

Office of Institutional Equity and Access

Provides avenues for filing formal complaints of discrimination or harassment other than gender discrimination or sexual misconduct. All inquiries are confidential.

Contact:

Valarie Stanley, Senior Director; valarie.stanley@yale.edu; (203)432-0849

or the following Deans’ Designees:

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: Michelle Nearson, Dean of Graduate Student Development and Diversity;michelle.nearson@yale.edu

Yale College: Melanie Boyd, Dean of Student Affairs; melanie.boyd@yale.edu

Burgwell Howard, Senior Associate Dean of Yale College; burgwell.howard@yale.edu

Mental Health & Counseling

55 Lock Street, 3rd floor

New Haven CT 06511

(203)432-0123; 24-hr acute care: (203)432-0123 

Student Accessibility Services

35 Broadway (rear), Room 222 

New Haven, CT 06520

(203)432-2324; sas.yale.edu

Walden Peer Counseling (undergrads)

Confidential counseling staffed by Yale undergraduates

Welch Hall basement, Entryway B, room A-05

New Haven, CT 06511

8pm-2am EST hotline: (203)432-8255

  walden.counseling@gmail.com