Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
WHOI Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive marine science programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives, and ways of thinking.
WHOI Sea Grant Education Specialist Grace Simpkins describes her approach to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for a WHOI DEI Committee video series.
Supported Projects
To help further our DEIJA mission, in 2020 the program awarded funding to eight projects aimed at taking steps toward addressing the issue.
“WHOI Sea Grant recognizes the need for innovative solutions to address the gross lack of diversity in our field,” said Director Matt Charette. “These projects include concrete steps to meaningfully improve justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) not only in the sciences, but across all walks of life,” Charette said. "It’s our hope that these projects will in turn inspire others, lead to additional efforts and make a noticeable impact.”
Read about the projects below.
A Sea Change: Oceanographers Learn From Psychologists About Systemic Racism in America
(Collin Ward, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, PI): a four-part seminar series providing the Woods Hole science community an opportunity to learn from leading psychologists and sociologists currently researching DEI topics, providing data informing discussions DEI within the research community and aiding in the building of a more aware community.
Expanding Diversity In Ocean Science Through Teachers-In-Residence
(Cape Cod Community College, Bridget Burger, PI), to create partnerships between marine science institutions and teachers from under-represented minority (URM) populations in STEM, or those who teach students in URM populations.
Marine Science Internship Program for New Bedford High School Students
(University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST), Steven Cadrin, PI) to support a marine science internship program for New Bedford High School students from under-represented groups.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Advancement (IDEA) in the Marine Sciences: Building Bridges
(Northeastern University Marine Science Center, Randall Hughes, PI) to help support costs associated with initiation, capacity building and workshops to implement a summer research internship program for under-represented minority populations.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
(Hauke Kite-Powell, PI) to broaden the diversity and inclusion of members of the Gender and Sexual Minority (GSM) community through science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) learning sessions and a geoscience lab experience at local colleges.
University of Massachusetts, Boston
(Kelly Luis, PI) to create a webinar series facilitating OCEAN -- online conversations for equity, action and networking -- at the university through the amplification of four Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) early career marine researchers and professionals.
» Read the PI's reflections on the program in "Online Conversations for Equity, Action, and Networking: A Pilot Project Highlighting Diversity in the Ocean Sciences," from Limnology & Oceanography, ASLO, May 2023.
Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP)
(Onjalé Scott Price, PI) to expand upon the existing PEP program and launch a pilot, post-baccalaureate summer research opportunity in Woods Hole for two recently graduated seniors from underrepresented minority groups to develop the skills, networks, and experiences required to competitively enter the marine workforce or graduate school. The project will also partner with public K-12 schools in Falmouth to develop marine and environmental science lesson plans.
Creating a Space for Women of Color in Marine Science
(Becca Selden, Wellesley College, PI) to create a community of practice among marine scientists in New England united in efforts to combat racism in the field. The kickoff event is a two-hour virtual training focused on ways to create a space for women of color in marine science at the undergraduate and graduate level. Their goal is to help participants foster an environment that helps Black students, and particularly Black women, enter and be retained in the marine science workforce.
Suggested Resources
Websites
- WHOI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion homepage
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science.
Exhibits
- Wampanoag Voices Online | Peabody Museum
- Our Story: The Complicated Relationship of the Indigenous Wampanoag and the Mayflower Pilgrims | Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
- A Tale of Two Capes - A WHOI Sea Grant-produced exhibit exploring diverse ecosystems and some of the sustainability challenges common to Cape Cod and Cape Verde
- Shellfish Sustaining Communities - Produced by members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and WHOI Sea Grant, the exhibit explores the history of shellfish in Wampanoag life and culture and looks at the challenges facing our local shellfish beds.
Talks and Webinars
- Safer Science: Strategies to protect at-risk researchers when conducting fieldwork | Cornell University | February 17
- Creating Safe Spaces: Roundtable 2 | National Wildlife Foundation
Articles and Publications
- Believe it! You'll find drive and talent in minority students | Bay Journal
- Students of color speak on racial equity in environmental sustainability | EcoEvoRxiv
- Through the Porthole: A Newsletter | WHOI-MIT Joint Program
Events
Woods Hole Black History Month (Annually in February)