The organisational structure of EDIG changed over the years to better match the evolving needs of the structure.
As of now, EDIG is structured into two groups, which are open to all:
- The Steering Committee,
- The General Committee.
The Steering Committee aims to define the main objectives of the organization as well as guarantee its smooth running. It is responsible for the day-to-day running of the project, along with strategic decision-making.
The General Committee discusses and oversees the different projects running within EDIG. It is responsible for general oversight of EDIG and ensuring the project is running as planned. The General Committee is also responsible for overseeing decisions taken by the Steering Committee and ensuring general transparency and accountability.
Both committees are open to all, and we are always open to new volunteers who want to learn more about EDI in geosciences and want to make our field a more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming one for all.
Currently, we have members from across the globe, including Ireland, the UK, Canada, Australia, and the USA.
EDIG was originally formed by a group of researchers based in Ireland, and external volunteers, who wanted to better understand and raise awareness of the experiences of minoritized geoscientists in the larger geoscience community. At the beginning, EDIG was established to focus on gender-based harassment in geoscience. Quickly, however, we realized that the focus should be expanded to bring these discussions together and to avoid the inadvertent exclusion of people.
- EDIG was launched in the summer of 2020 with a survey exploring prejudice, inequity, bias, exclusion, sexism, and discrimination within the larger geoscience community. The results of this survey were subsequently used to structure a two-day, online conference exploring where we have come from, where we are now, and where we are going in geoscience EDI. The conference, supported by 14 initial partner groups, wrapped up with a workshop on unconscious bias supported by the IGI (Institute of Geologists of Ireland) and iCRAG (Research Ireland Centre for Applied Geosciences).
- After the conference, and based on the conversations that took place, we decided to continue developing the project. As part of this, we restructured the committee to work towards a more sustainable, long-term approach to the project, and we subsequently opened our team up to new members outside of the original founding members.
- In 2022, we organised a second conference (EDIG Conference 2022) focusing on data collection in EDI, awareness of EDI challenges, and action. After this conference, and based on the incredible work made by some of our volunteers, we decided to launch a website to share everything we learned over the past five years.
As we continue to grow and learn, the EDIG project will change. ur mission remains the same: providing a platform for us all to come together to engage with EDI topics and learn how we can make geoscience more inclusive and accessible for all. We aim to engage more people in these conversations and move into actionable change within our community.
