Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Color photo of students laughing and walking.

JEDI-EOS works to enhance Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) within our research communities (EOS and UNH) while pursuing complex research questions with societal impact. Our work is motivated by the high-priority need for increased diversity in STEM disciplines, particularly the geosciences, following decades of limited to no progress. We aim to position EOS for success through improved JEDI pathways in recruitment, collaboration, and research. Our efforts, including those that extend beyond EOS and even UNH, are highlighted below.

JEDI-EOS strives to create an inclusive environment for everyone in EOS. As a part of this goal, we are sharing our culture of universal respect. EOS welcomes all, including faculty, staff, students, and guests, regardless of their appearance, age, background, ability, identity, race, national or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, socioeconomic or political status, gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation. We are committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination, harassment, bullying, retaliation, or inappropriate physical contact. We respect and celebrate each other’s differences and condemn actions that create toxic work environments that reduce the quality, integrity, and pace of the advancement of science by marginalizing individuals and communities. 

As community members engaged in higher education and research, we celebrate the healthy exchange of ideas through reason and respectful argumentation. Creating a positive, supportive work environment that allows for this healthy exchange is the responsibility of every person in EOS. However, reality suggests that actions are still necessary to achieve this ideal. We share here our belief that the success and wellbeing of the EOS community depends on our commitment to a culture of universal respect. 

This statement was inspired by and modified from the CEPS DEI Committee Expectation of Universal Respect.

Learn More about the UNH Office of Community, Equity and Diversity  > >

EOS researchers are working across the university to improve diversity, equity and inclusion. UNH has developed Strategic Diversity Initiatives to serve as an overarching guiding document for our efforts. Many of our researchers are part of the Inclusion Council and serve on other UNH DEI Committees, including those in CEPS, COLSA, the Marine School, and in Departments such as Earth Sciences, Physics, and the Shoals Marine Lab. Some of our researchers have also participated in the 2020-2021 COLA Sidore Lecture Series that focused on "Honoring the Mother of All People."

EOS researchers are currently participating in three groups, or pods, as part of the Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE) initiative: The Ocean Mapping and Engineering Pod, the Earth Systems Research Center/Ocean Process Analysis Lab Pod, and the Department of Earth Sciences pod. These pods worked through a curriculum focused on improving inclusivity and addressing challenges related to racism in the geosciences field. Pod members developed various action items and deliverables for each session; more deliverables are on the way, and the pods continue to meet as part of this effort.

Screenshot of Zoom call with 16 people

 

Additional Committee Member

Research Office Representatives

Rainbow color timeline of JEDI-EOS events.

 

UNH Diversity Statement

The University of New Hampshire is committed to building and nurturing an environment of inclusive excellence where all students, faculty, and staff can thrive. We also are committed to providing open and inclusive access for all alumni, volunteers, learners, employees, and visitors seeking to participate in our programs and activities. We venture to sustain a campus environment that fosters mutual respect and understanding. We believe diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are foundational values inextricably linked to achieving our core educational mission; and we embrace the many characteristics of our community members that make them uniquely themselves. Here, you belong, and all are welcome.

UNH Land, Water and Life Acknowledgement

As we all journey on the trail of life, we wish to acknowledge the spiritual and physical connection the Pennacook, Abenaki, and Wabanaki Peoples have maintained to N’dakinna (homeland) and the aki (land), nebi (water), olakwika (flora), and awaasak (fauna) which the University of New Hampshire community is honored to steward today. We also acknowledge the hardships they continue to endure after the loss of unceded homelands and champion the university’s responsibility to foster relationships and opportunities that strengthen the well-being of the Indigenous People who carry forward the traditions of their ancestors.

Listen to the Acknowledgement read by Denise Pouliot  > >

Flier graphic and photos of EOS tour.

 


 

Photos and agenda from the EOS Equity Lens workshop.

 



 

Photo collage of 2022 Juneteenth event
 


Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program

 

Our External Partnerships and Collaborations to Improve DEI

  • Sarah Benson out at sea on the R/V Kilo Moana with a CTD Rosette sampler.
    Oceanography M.S. '21
    Sarah is currently a Staff Scientist/Chemist at NewFields specializing in sediment management and marine services and working to reduce impacts of contaminants in marine environments. She feels her UNH experience at sea for two weeks post graduation aboard the R/V Kilo Moana helped land her career.
    Learn More
  • Cassie pointing to ocean map graphic while being filmed.
    Environmental Sciences, Ocean Mapping M.S. '18
    Cassie is currently a marine geologist leading a small team of mappers at the University of Texas in Austin. She loves having the time and space to deep dive into a project and work through all the geophysical analyses that she hasn't been able to do in previous positions. 
    Learn More
  • Helen standing by the shore with row of houses in background.
    Zoology M.S. '14
    Helen studied the environmental influences on horseshoe crabs, did a fellowship in Washington DC working on marine policy issues at the federal level, worked in NYC for four years on coastal resilience issues, and is currently a graduate student at Northeastern working towards her Ph.D.
    Learn More
  • Eunsang standing next to NASA logo sign inside building.
    Civil and Environmental Engineering Ph.D. '20
    Eunsang is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and University of Maryland, College Park. He is currently working on developing model simulations to assess the benefits of a future satellite mission concept.
    Learn More
  • Photo of two men integrating and testing the ERPA instrument for the MICA rocket mission.
    Physics Ph.D. '15
    Ian is currently a Senior Professional Staff Member at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory working on experimental space physics research, including magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling, energetic particle dynamics, and particle flight instrumentation and mission design. 
    Learn More
Group of people talking and laughing around a table.

This link provides an introduction to the resources available to the community. Providing everyone access to this information helps build a more equitable workplace and enhances the capacity of EOS to recruit, support, and retain diverse research teams.

Hands typing on keyboard of laptop computer.

The Incident Report Form should be used for the reporting of all incidents of discrimination and discriminatory harassment, bias and/or hate crime, retaliation, and sexual harassment and/or violence that involves any member of the UNH community.

Students sit outside in a circle listening to one student speak.

Please reach out to us with any feedback, suggestions / updates to our content and links, or concerns about our efforts to make sure EOS is a welcoming and inclusive environment. The JEDI-EOS team can be reached via email at jedi-eos@unh.edu

Upcoming DEI Events