Geological Society of America

T206 Institutional and Grassroots Efforts Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Scientific Workplace (Posters)

Tuesday, 11 October 2022
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Exhibit Hall F

GEOSPACE, AN ACCESSIBLE GEOLOGICAL FIELD CAMP: THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE

Paper number: T206-20
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Authors

Alexandria Thompson Presenting Author
Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Samantha Abel-Zurstadt
Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA
Anna E. Baker
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
Francesca Butler
University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen
Elisabeth Sardi
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Sidney Washburn
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Anita Marshall
University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Sean Thatcher
The City University of New York, College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY

Abstract

Undergraduate geoscience programs often culminate with students attending a traditional geological field camp as their capstone experience. These are often described as “intensive” or “rites of passage”; students spend several weeks in a remote location where physical and mental “toughness” are expected. Students with disabilities may be excluded from these field camps as they often cannot accommodate many of these individuals in a way that allows them to fully participate and obtain similar experiences as their nondisabled peers. Barriers for disabled (and also many nondisabled) students may be physical, such as inaccessible buildings and field sites, or financial and time-related, such as employment commitments and caretaking responsibilities. Here, we provide feedback as students who participated in the pilot run of the GeoSPACE Field Program in northern Arizona (NSF Award 2023124), an accessible alternative to traditional field camps.

GeoSPACE offered a variety of built-in adjustments for students, which fell into four categories: financial, dietary, physical, and participation. Participation options were in-person or virtual, thereby including students who could not make it into the field. Online communication platforms allowed for a synchronous connection between in-person and virtual students. To ease the financial strain of attending a field camp, students were provided a stipend with food, travel, and lodging costs covered. Field sites with wheelchair access were selected to allow everyone the opportunity to partake in research. Rest days built into the schedule provided time to decompress and physically recuperate. Varied meal options were prepared for participants with restricted dietary needs.

Student survey responses indicate that these accommodations were highly beneficial both to individual participants and to the larger group. We hope that the long-standing exclusivity of field work will begin to change as accessible alternatives like GeoSPACE accomplish the goals of the traditional field camp without excluding disabled participants.

For more information on the GeoSPACE mission and our scientific results, search “GeoSPACE” in the conference abstracts.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022AM-378987

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