Accessibility and Inclusivity in Wildlife and STEM
The evidence-based, innovative work that defines STEM cannot adequately address the diverse issues faced around the world until we have equitable access to these fields. For too many, STEM, including wildlife research, reflects systemic injustices that marginalize folks based on their race, skin color, geography, faith, gender identity and expression, sexual preference, and disability.
Below is a non-exaustive list of resources that offer important insights to the extent of these marginalizations, how we can do better, and to making STEM deliberately intersectional and inclusive to all.
What is Intersectionality? By the founder of the term, Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw
Territorial Acknowledgements by USDAC
Me and White Supremacy Workbook by author and speaker Layla F. Saad
Black vs black: on respectfully centering racialized and ethnic identities. By The Radical Copyeditor
De-colonizing science reading list by Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Why Women + Nonbinary is not a good idea by Bogi Reads the World
Relevant STEM Hashtags
I use my Instagram account to engage people with science and the variety of interesting people who do it. I initially started my account using hashtags such as #WildlifeBiologist and #BiologistImogene to connect people with cool wildlife research and natural history information. Not only have the responses to these posts been overwhelmingly positive, but I have learned and met so many scientists via other informative and socially conscious hashtags. Hashtags are a great way to connect people to supportive communities and useful information, and are just one reason social media can be useful for science! Check out these hashtags to learn about important issues and to meet people from a variety of backgrounds who are doing great work (not just wildlife!).
#BLACKandSTEM
#ScientistsWhoSelfie
#IAmABiologist
#LGBTStemDay
#DistrctinglySexy
#DisabledandSTEM
#TheSTEMSquad
#StrongerTogether
#SciComm