Diversity in the Geosciences
The Geological Society is committed to supporting diversity in its staff and Fellowship, and has made it a priority to help encourage and celebrate equality and inclusion in geoscience education and professions. As the UK professional body for geoscientists, the Geological Society believes that everybody should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, regardless of disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other diversity characteristic. We believe that making the geosciences more inclusive will benefit individuals, the science, and society.
Improving diversity, equality and inclusion in geoscience education and professions, and in the Geological Society itself, is a long term goal which will involve generational change. But we will not see this change if we do not begin this journey now and make a sustained and enduring commitment to it.
In September 2014 the Geological Society formalised this commitment by becoming a signatory to the Science Council’s Declaration on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. This Declaration sets out our ambition to improve diversity, equality and inclusion across geoscience communities.
Council agreed on 17 June 2015 that the Society should sign the American Geosciences Institute's statement on disability in the geosciences. Find out more and read the statement.
Held jointly with the Higher Education Network and University Geoscience UK, this conference explored the design and delivery of fieldwork that is inclusive and accessible for people with disabilities.
As part of our commitment to supporting diversity, equality and inclusion in the geosciences, the Society has now introduced a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Survey of its Fellowship.
Tricia Henton sits on Council as the Society's board level "Diversity Champion", responsible for advocating the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion, and improving the Society's practice.