As part of EDIG, we have taken part in several workshops, panels, and conferences, helping us to make new connections and learn new perspectives.
Some of these events were developed in collaboration with other groups and people, helping to deliver workshops or to promote awareness across organisations through seminars or other events. We have also presented at various conferences based on our activities. Some of these contributions are outlined below.
Events We have Attended
Title of presentation: Planning virtual and hybrid events: steps to improve inclusion and accessibility
- Subsession: 14aO1 - Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Geochemistry: Learnings and Future Perspectives
- Session: 14a - Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Geochemistry: Learnings and Future Perspectives:
- Theme: Theme 14: Cross-cutting. Geochemistry Informing the Public and Policy for a Better World
Read more about it here: Goldsmidth 2024
Abstract
Over the last decade, the way we communicate and engage has changed on a global scale. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid and unplanned move to virtual platforms, resulting in several accessibility challenges and the inadvertent exclusion of several people during online events. While virtual/hybrid events have strong potential to facilitate new opportunities and networks for everyone, they can also favor the inclusion of groups traditionally excluded from in-person conferences. To do so, early and careful planning considering inclusion and accessibility are needed. Without effective planning, virtual and hybrid events will replicate many biases and exclusions inherent to in-person events.
This presentation will share lessons learned from previous virtual/hybrid events’ successes and failures, based on the combined experiences of several groups and individuals. This presentation is based on a recently submitted EGU Sphere article1 that aims to provide guidance on planning virtual/hybrid events from an accessibility viewpoint. While we
acknowledge that every event is unique and will require its own accessibility design, early consideration helps to ensure everyone feels welcome and included. We will present here our suggested accessibility considerations, broken down into three stages of event planning: 1) Pre-event, 2) on the day/during the event, and 3) after the event, with a specific focus on the importance of communication from the early stages to the post-event phases.
This presentation is intended to act as a starting place for inclusion and accessibility during virtual/hybrid event planning but it is not a fully comprehensive guide. The goal of this presentation is to initiate discussion on event accessibility and inclusion and to help generate new ideas and knowledge from people outside of the authors’ network. As more events are run, it is expected that new insights and experiences will be gained, helping to continually update standards.
Authors: Desmau M., Doran, A. L., Dutch, V., Warren, B., Watson, R. A., Murphy, K., Aldis, A., Cooper, I., Cockram, C., Harp, D., , and Keppler, L.
Location: Vienna, Austria (in person), April 2024.
Read more about it here: EGU 2024.
Title of Presentation: Planning virtual and hybrid events: steps to improve inclusion and accessibility
Abstract:
Over the last decade, the way we communicate and engage with one another has changed on a global scale. It is now easier than ever to network and collaborate with colleagues worldwide. But, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a rapid and unplanned move to virtual platforms, resulting in several accessibility challenges and the inadvertent exclusion of several people during online events. While virtual/hybrid events have strong potential to facilitate new opportunities and networks for everyone, they are also greatly positioned to increase the inclusion of groups traditionally excluded from purely in-person conferences. However, early and careful planning is needed to achieve this, with inclusion and accessibility considered from the start. Including a virtual element in a conference does not automatically equal inclusion or accessibility. Without effective planning, virtual and hybrid events will replicate many biases and exclusions inherent to in-person events.
This presentation will share lessons learned from previous events’ successes and failures, based on the combined experiences of several groups and individuals who have planned and run such events. This presentation is based on an EGU Sphere article, of the same title, that aims to provide guidance on planning online/hybrid events from an accessibility viewpoint based on the authors experiences. The goal of this presentation is to initiate discussion on event accessibility and inclusion and to help generate new ideas and knowledge from people outside of the authors network. Every event is unique and will require its own accessibility design, but early consideration is crucial to ensure everyone feels welcome and included. Our suggested accessibility considerations have been broken down into three stages of event planning: 1) Pre-event planning, 2) on the day/during the event, and 3) after the event.
Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in designing and running virtual/hybrid events can help everyone engage more meaningfully, resulting in more impactful discussions including groups with limited access to in-person events. However, while this article is intended to act as a starting place for inclusion and accessibility in online and hybrid event planning, it is not a fully comprehensive guide. As more events are run, it is expected that new insights and experiences will be gained, helping to continually update standards.
Authors: Doran, A., Dutch, V., Warren, B., Watson, R. A., Murphy, K., Aldis, A., Cooper, I., Cockram, C., Harp, D., Desmau, M., and Keppler, L.
Location: Online, May 2021.
Read more about it here: RRM 2021.
Title of Presentation: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion in Geoscience (EDIG) initiative: A time to listen, learn, and act.
Abstract:
The Equality [now Equity], Diversity, and Inclusion in Geoscience (EDIG) initiative was created to better understand the experiences of the geoscience community with respect to prejudice, inequity, bias, exclusion, sexism, and discrimination. EDIG aims to provide a platform for learning for the wider geoscience community and promote progressive action to make geoscience more inclusive and equitable.
As part of our initiatives, we organised the virtual EDIG conference in December 2020 entitled: A time to listen, learn, and act. This virtual event aimed to facilitate learning on equality, diversity, and inclusion related topics relevant to the geosciences. It hosted sessions on where we have come from, where we are now, and where we are going. The conference especially focused on raising awareness around the challenges experienced by minoritized geoscientists, helping to involve more people in these conversations. The conference hosted 17 speakers on a range of different topics, from the history of diversity in geoscience, to how we can become more inclusive, to how we can move forward together, as well as a workshop on unconscious bias sponsored by the Institute of Geologists of Ireland (IGI) and the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geology (iCRAG).
Prior to the EDIG conference, we launched a global survey to carry out research on equality, diversity, and inclusion in the geosciences. The survey asked people about their own experiences (or lack of) around EDI related topics. The survey received a large response, with 708 participants from 58 countries. The main themes from the survey data were used to structure our conference programme. A review of the survey results can be watched on our YouTube channel [1].
We will present our experiences of the EDIG conference, focusing on the raw materials sector. We will also outline our plans of establishing a global community of support and learning, to help us all come together to make the geosciences more welcoming, accessible, inclusive, and equitable.
Authors: Doran, A., Bidgood, A., Blowick, A., Craig, J., Ekandjo, H., Foxe, J., Franklin, J., Käter, D., Hitzman, M., McAuliffe, F., Torremans, K., Wallace, E.
Events We have Organised
Workshop name: Your EDIW Toolbox: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Wellness Resources for Early Career Researchers.
Purpose: This in-person workshop was a collaborative effort between three groups working in Ireland (IGI, IAWG, and EDIG). This event aimed to discuss the main challenges being faced by early-career geologists in Ireland. Many of these challenges are applicable across disciplines and geographies, however.
Background: MSG (Metamorphic Studies Group) EDI pre-conference workshop led by Dr Anna Bidgood (online). Available to watch here
Title: EDIG-COMET-MSG workshop: Designing inclusive fieldwork
Date: April 11th, 2022, online.
Background: As part of a wider conference on base metals in Ireland, organised by the Ore Deposits Hub (ODH) and the Irish Association for Economic Geology (IAEG), EDIG was asked to organise a workshop-style panel session. This event brought together heads of research centres, the director of the Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), representatives from several groups and companies, along with early career professionals to discuss equity, diversity, and inclusion in Ireland.
Title: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Ireland.
Date: 14th October, 2021. online.
If you are interested in EDIG contributing to an event or collaborating to support your project, please let us know! We would be delighted to support and work with you where we can.
Please get in touch via our contact page to discuss, and tell us the following information.
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