During the SCAR Open Science Conference (OSC) 2024 the SCAR Action Group on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (SCAR EDI AG) organized numerous events, including a workshop, plenary, and the subject of this communication, a parallel session titled: “Is Antarctic Science Ready to Tackle Urgent Global Issues? Perspectives on Strengthening Equitable Science Communities”.
The six talks in the session were given by a range of speakers, from from early career researchers to senior academics, with diverse research and cultural backgrounds from across the globe. The session drew huge interest from the SCAR community: with over 70 attendees, there was standing room only.
Camila Barrientos gave the first talk, which delved into the history of women in Antarctica. One of her main messages was the need to acknowledge and rectify the historical exclusion of women from Antarctic research in order to build a more equitable future.
Our group was presented by Pilvi Saarikoski, who identified western-focused perspectives and language barriers as some of the major challenges in the polar EDI community, while also highlighting the many efforts being made by our AG to foster inclusivity through e. g. open-source papers, trainings, and collaborations with the social sciences.
In the third talk, Sharon Robinson gave an overview of the ‘Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF)’ program’s EDI plan, which addresses barriers to participation in Antarctic research, such as caring responsibilities, cultural biases (including indigenous perspectives), and a lack of recognition, through proactive policies, mentorship, and training.
Mariama Dryák-Vallies from the Polar Science Early Career Community Office (PSECCO), described the challenges faced by early career researchers in the polar space, presenting all the ways in which they work to address those challenges by emphasizing collaboration, shared goals, and maintaining an equity lens in all their endeavors.
The ‘Diversity in UK Polar Science Initiative (DiPSI)’ was introduced by Huw Griffiths as a regional initiative that promotes diversity and inclusion of underrepresented groups by offering paid internships, training sessions, and social media campaigns. One of the key takeaways from his talk was: ‘Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is an act!’
Finally, Kenny Matsuoka, a member of the RINGS (Ice Sheet Margin) steering committee, presented an example of how inclusion can be embedded in the scientific work of a SCAR Action Group. He explained that cultural sensitivity must be considered in the context of international collaborations, and underlined the importance of honesty and accountability when collaborating across cultures.
The session closed with a panel discussion centered on scientific mobility and work-life balance, as well as the how language barriers can constitute a form of discrimination. Panelists emphasized the importance of mobility for learning and career advancement, while acknowledging the challenges that changing countries can present to work-life balance, especially for those with caretaking responsibilities. They closed by recognizing the added burden imposed on non-native English speakers to engage in polar research, advocating for multilingual support in scientific forums.
Ultimately, the session provided many insights into regional and national EDI initiatives, highlighting actions to improve EDI in the SCAR community, and soliciting continued input from the community into the SCAR EDI AG. Our goal continues to be to implement these calls to action, creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all in polar research.