Counteracting Systemic Bias in the Lab, Field, and Classroom

Abstract

Grappling with systemic discrimination and bias in geosciences can be overwhelming to the point that one may feel powerless to fix them. Despite the sweeping nature of this challenge, faculty, principal investigators, and other scientists with leadership roles have unparalleled power to mitigate harm in environments they oversee. Here, we identify ways that scientists in these roles can immediately address bias in three common spaces—the lab, field, and classroom. We highlight key actions that can be taken to improve the quality of life of marginalized students and other trainees quickly, while important but comparatively slow institutional changes proceed.