Diversity+in+Environmental+Science


 * Showcasing Diversity in Environmental Professions **
 * Event held by the Nicholas School of the Environment, along with
 * DICE (Diversity and Inclusive Community for the Environment), Rising Tide, The Nicholas School Student Council, and the Career and Professional Development Center
 * Panel discussion (Diversity, jobs, and background)

Speakers:
 * Jamie Cole - Policy Advocate, NC Conservation Network
 * Jianyu Wu - Science Communications Specialists, NatureServe
 * Dale Threatt-Taylor -District Director, Wake Soil and Water Conservation District

(This was held at the Environmental Hall of Duke university. Please also note the record of events are paraphrased, and thus should not be taken word for word of what each panelist said)

While I arrived a bit late, a speaker introducing the lecture's intent, as well the organizations involved, and noting diversity issues in environmental science was spoken for a while. Another speaker, who would ask the panelists questions started us off with what got them into the environmental field (which ended up getting their background).

Jamie: Mainly went to school with majority African Americans. Always had a strong sense of social justice, so went into legal profession. Hearing about environmental issues invoked the sense of social justice in her, so is a lawyer talking to government people about environmental issues.

Jianyu: Grew up in west area of China, urban area so did not have much greenery or environmental influences in her life. After coming into Berkeley as international exchange student, did she start to have an environment of greenery around her- from that she gained a sense of respect from the experience of being near nature.

Dale: Had gone to a school, was pulled into counselor office about future- was planned completely what she was to do and job to take, but instead decided to go on ahead anyways into college for her field of interest. The field she was very sure she would do she didn't do well in class, so she ended up trying to do chemical engineering for the large money gain- but happen to take one ecology course and completely changed over as she got very interested in that. Also, she grew up on a farm- grew everything (like chickens, cows) they ate except for stuff from the grocery store (sugar, flour). Her parents often made her do chores outside. When finding her field, she didn't realize how much the environment meant to her- she grew up affected by it, grew animals, and did chores which she liked. After being more environmental field-focused did she realize the importance of the environment to herself.

Speaker Q2: What issues in diversity do you see in your work space? (also ended up including how they themselves dealt with it)

Jamie: Very little of her race were in environmental, and in taking classes she often did not have the same background as other students- white males who had a very strong science background from parents or in what they did. While she knew the huge background difference, she said to not care about fitting in- sometimes places that need diversity need that person to help make it diverse, so being there was a help in making it more diverse; a couple others of her race followed her into legal profession after. Also, in the group (NC Conservation Network), she was the first African American; later a couple more joined and now the group is actively trying to make itself more diverse. She was happy about the fact they are now with the recent changes in the world they are pushing for more diversity (as before it was her and mainly white males).

Dale (she spoke 2nd): She does not feel the need to stay quiet about something that is blatantly there- she will say what is the issue if there is one. In her profession, when talking about diversity, when she spoken or a discussion about it took place, she was told she was 'too loud', 'too talkative, talk less', 'sit down', 'why does it have to come from a women'. She says to speak up, need to have crucial conversations- meaningful and calm talks about issues (versus getting upset and attacking each other in discussing). She also notes in her job, there was mainly white males, with only in country areas probably was not done by a white male. Recently, a couple more of her race entered her job field, but not much.

Jianyu: In her workplace, it is a very close knit community- you feel very included and cared for. The job is based on merit, so the emotional factors (stuff about race, etc.) did not affect the job selection. She empathized alot of times people cared alot about she/individuals said, they were cared looked as a person as they are, not by a certain characteristics (and noted that they grew close and cared alot). Her workplace had a very professional atmosphere, very disciplined workforce, but had stuff like potluck on holidays, where they could all talk and mingle.

Q3: What has being a lawyer or international student, and etc. have an effect on your view (different insights); what has being of those worked against you. (Note from author: Panelists didn't really have anything that directly answered the questions, but some important stuff was said during the answering is listed below.)

Jamie: We try to reach down the community and try to get to know them and speak to them, not AT them. She does note sometimes a white person can interact and speak with an African American community and work with them just fine, but to her as a African American she has to work harder with a Caucasian community. She has to work harder to gain their trust, speak with them, etc. (efforts put into working with the community is harder). She also notes that sometimes certain lands and areas may want to be preserved or used in some more environmentally friendly way, but it is important to hear the community on what they want and how they would be affected. She also later talked (with Dale adding in support too) that citizen science is a huge help, and having less harsh science standards should be accepted. (Basically was saying citizen science has credibility and should be treated as such and also should be encouraged.)

Jianyu: Talked alot about how she had alot of failures, noted that while she enjoyed environmental science alot, sometimes she just did so bad she felt that she wanted to stop. Without a supportive community, she would've struggled to even continue the job. She is very thankful to the supportive community around her in job and in her time in university.

Dale: Talked about the need for a crucial conversation (even told us to look it up), and said to speak up- someone needs to start the conversation and to be yourself. She talked how young people when entering a new job try to conform and act to the norm of the people- but it can be painful and make you unhappy. Should be yourself, and will be much happier. (Jamie agreed an empathized too here that crucial conversations are important, need to have more talks)

(Somewhere in the questions above Jianyu Wu did mention what her job did- go out into the field, and publish the data.) (I believed she repeated that info in 2 different questions, though since I wrote this by memory, where that occurred has unfortunately slipped my mind :P)

2 questions where asked from the audience (both answered by Jamie), but answers given where basically what she already said.

After the panel talk was over, I talked to Jianyu Wu as during her talks (and somehow in the introduction by the 1st speaker I missed the slightly more detailed info on what she did), I asked her what exactly does 'communication' mean in her job. Does it talking to people face to face, go to communities, talk between environmental databases, etc.?

Jamie: Well, it's not exactly about going to people and talk face to face. The basis of my job is to go out on the field and collect data. On the basis of that idea, info is shared (what I took for in between environmental communities). She also talked about how the data would for example be turned into a website, into an app, or into a map which then she took out the 2016 Annual Report (of NatureServe) and showed me a map that was generated digitally by the data collected. She then gave me the 2016 Annual Report of NatureServe, and NatureServe's Citizen Science Strategy.



What I learned from the panel: People entering the environmental science field can come from various backgrounds. It's possible to find a field you like that you didn't expect or was influenced from childhood to enter. Environmental science has a large range of occupations related to it, which can also be a combination of fields. Yes there are diversity issues, but there is some push for more diversity by individuals and organizations. There is some friction against diversity, but having crucial conversations can help talk about and resolve matters. Being a minority can be hard sometimes, but don't let it discourage you. Being true to yourself and finding a supportive community helps. Don't be afraid to speak up, take action.