EDI in Earth Sciences

We live at a time when there is an urgency to address issues of diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity in society as whole. Over recent years it has become apparent that educative units with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) tend to be less inclusive than is expected. A serious under representation in STEM by women, persons with disabilities, visible minorities and Indigenous Peoples has long been recognized. While a number of programs have successfully attracted under-represented groups to STEM, there is still a need to enhance the diversity and a culture of inclusion in STEM.

We aim to create an inclusive environment within the Department of Earth Sciences, both inside and outside the classroom, that supports a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff equitably and without prejudice. The Department of Earth Sciences works to identify and breakdown barriers including (but not limited to) race, biases (conscious, unconscious, affinity), racisms, stereotypes, discrimination in both teaching and research. Our intention is to grow and maintain a diverse community that reflects society as a whole in which practices of inclusivity and equity prevail.

Field trips and studies are a component of Earth Science education and research, but they represent a barrier to some people due to accessibility and(or) culture. The Earth Sciences Department commits to safety and equitable accommodations for field components to coursework, including alternative delivery mechanisms and projects.

*In a university the groups that have been identified as having been negatively impacted by exclusive, inequitable or prejudicial practices include, but are not limited to, groups that are distinguished by their race, ethnicity, or nationality, their gender or sexual identity, their religion or belief system, and their social status or their physical disabilities.

EDI Resources

Resources at Brock

Resources for Training and Education in EDI

 

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge the land on which Brock University was built is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe people, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum agreement. Today this gathering place is home to many First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people and acknowledging reminds us that our great standard of living is directly related to the resources and friendship of Indigenous people.

As the study of Earth Sciences frequently includes fieldwork across Turtle Island, we recognize how its rocks, water, plants, animals, and peoples contribute to the understanding of our planet.

Reconciliation and Decolonialization in Earth Sciences

We acknowledge the role that Earth Sciences has played in the colonial history Canada, where resource extraction has occurred without informed consent or respect for indigenous peoples.

The Department of Earth Sciences commits to decolonialization and reconciliation through respectful research, teaching, and leadership. Actions include:

  • Creation of the Earth and Planetary Science Communications BASc degree program, with a goal prepare students with knowledge about the Earth and planetary sciences, as well as the skills to communicate well and create positive relationships between organizations and stakeholders.
  • Research that respects indigenous heritage and relationships with the land. A recent example is 2024 MSc. thesis by Joshua Moraal, “An Investigation of Hydrologic Changes in the Monimolimnion of Crawford Lake, Ontario, Canada, and Possible Linkages with Indigenous Settlement Abandonment.”
  • Emphasis in teaching on applications of Earth Sciences that address issues facing indigenous peoples in Canada and globally. Our courses cover relevant topics including climate change, geohazards, environmental public hearth, environmental stewardship, and resource development as Canada transitions to a green economy.