DearmembersoftheLamontcommunity,Justlikethat,tenyearshavegoneby.LookingbackatthejourneyoftheOfficeofAcademicAffairs&Diversity,Iwouldliketotakeamomenttothankyouallforyoursupportandinvolvementovertheyears.Withoutyourparticipationthisofficewouldnotbeabletocarryoutitsworkandmission.Areasthattheofficehandles–suchasdiversity,inclusion,searchcommittees,appointments,promotions,salary,campuslife,mentoring,TitleIX–aresensitive,delicate,andoftencontroversial,evokingstrongreactions.Unlikescientificinquiry,whichisgovernedbyscientificprinciplesandanobjectiveorientation,thesetopicsarehighlysubjective,withstronglyheldandoftenwidelydifferingviews.Someissuesaresodivisivethatpeoplewillneveragreeonthebestwayforward.Andyetmoveforwardwemust.Itisagainstthisbackdropthatthisofficefunctionseveryday.Despitetheseobviouschallenges,thepasttenyearshavealsobeenrewardingandfulfillinginmanyways,andcontinuetoremindmewhythisofficewassetupinthefirstplace.Long-termchangeoftenhappensinincrementalsteps.Whatseemslikeafewminorchangeshereandthere,whentakentogetherandsustainedovertime,resultinthewholebeinggreaterthanthesumofitsparts.Ihaveoutlinedforyoubelowsomekeyactivitiesofthisofficeovertheyears–whiletherestillremainsworktodo,wehaveshiftedmanyofourbaselinestowardsgreaterinclusivity,andthesechangesareheretostay.Promotingacultureofinclusivityneedsactiveparticipationfromallmembersofthecommunity.Andovertime,whetherpeoplestayonatLamontormovetootherplaces,thehopeisthatweallworktowardsmakingourlittlecornersoftheworldabetterplaceeveryday.Thankyouforallyourparticipationandsupport.Ihopeyouallfeelasenseofprideinthechangesthatwearemakingaswebuildamoresupportiveandinclusivecommunitytogether.Withgratitude,KuheliMs.KuheliDutt,Ph.D.AssistantDirector,AcademicAffairs&DiversityLamont-DohertyEarthObservatory,ColumbiaUniversityEmail:kdutt@ldeo.columbia.eduWebsite:https://diversity.ldeo.columbia.edu

PostdoctoralPaidMaternityLeavePolicy

PostdoctoralyearsaccountforthelargestleakintheacademicSTEMpipeline.Besideschallengessuchasachillyclimateandimplicitbias,postdoctoralyearstendtobefamilyformingyears,withwomenbearingadisproportionatelyhigherburdenthanmen.Lamont’sPostdoctoralParentalLeavePolicycoversthesalaryofwomenpostdocs(includingexternallyfundedpostdocs)duringmaternityleaveiftheirregularfundingsourcedoesnotallowforpaidmaternityleave.

ExcellenceinMentoringAward

OriginallylimitedtoLDEO/DEES,thisawardwasopeneduptoallunitsontheLamontCampus.Further,startingin2019,therewillbetwoawards,oneforscientists/faculty,andtheotherfortechnical/administrativestaff.Therationaleforthisisthatthejobdescriptionsoftechnical/administrativestaffoftendonothavethesamebreadthandscopeasthoseofscientists/faculty,puttingthematacomparativedisadvantage.

TheOfficeofAcademicAffairs&DiversitywascreatedfollowingtherecommendationsoftheNSF-ADVANCEprogramattheEarthInstituteatColumbia(PIandDirector:RobinBell;Co-PIs:MarkCane,StephaniePfirman,PatriciaCulligan,JohnMutter).Sinceitscreation,thisofficehasbeeninvolvedinseveralactivitiesandinitiatives,someofwhicharelistedbelow.Whilesomeoftheseactivitiesarerecurringandothersareone-time,theyareallaimedatpromotinginclusivity,raisingawareness,andcreatingabetterworkenvironmentatLamont.

LGBTQ+Inclusivity:“YouareWelcomeHere”

ThisinitiativeaimstoraiseawarenessonLGBTQ+issuesandcreateasafeandinclusivespace.FollowingablogbyformergraduatestudentKyleFrischkorninScientificAmerican,rainbowstickerswiththephrase“Youarewelcomehere”havebeenmadeavailabletotheentireLamontcommunitytopostintheirspacesaroundcampus,promotingamessageofLGBTQ+inclusivity.CampusRestroomsSignage

WithassistancefromLamontFacilities,gender-neutralrestroomsatLamontarenowclearlymarked.Alistofallgender-neutralrestroomsisavailableontheLamontcampusmap.Allsingle-genderrestroomsnowhaveQRcodesonthedoor,whichcanbescannedonasmartphonetoshowthelocationsofallgender-neutralrestroomsontheLamontcampus.

Gender&DiversityCoffeeHour

LedbygraduatestudentMaayanYehudai,thisisamonthlygathering,typicallyonaFridaymorning,todiscussgenderanddiversityissuesinSTEM.Discussionscoverawiderangeoftopics,includingresearchondiversityandinclusion,impostersyndrome,work-lifebalance,sexualharassment,dualcareercouples,anddefinitionsofmasculinity.

HarassmentAwareness

Variousactivitiesandevents,opentothewholecampus,areaimedatpromotingawarenessontopicssuchasharassmentintheworkplace.TheseincludeflyersaroundcampuswithinformationonTitleIXresources,andseriesofeventsduringHarassmentAwarenessMonth,includingsessionson:genderbiasinthegeosciences;engagingmeningenderequality;bystanderinterventiontraining;implicitbiastraining;LGBTQawareness;andharassmentinthefield.

Office of Academic Affairs & Diversity

SearchProcedures

Searchproceduresforprofessionalofficersofresearchweremodifiedandupdatedtopromotemorediverseandinclusivesearches.Theseincluded:advertisingintargetedvenuesincludingminorityvenues;providinginformationtosearchcommitteesonbestpractices,andtheroleofimplicitbias;providinginformationonthedemographicsoftheapplicantpool,andcomparingittothenationalavailablepoolusingNSFandNORCdata.

CampusLife&WorkEnvironmentSurvey

Thissurvey,organizedjointlywiththeCampusLifeCommittee,wasaimedatgettingasenseoftheLamontcommunity’soverallsatisfactionwiththeirworkenvironment,especiallythoseaspectspertainingtocampusclimateandcampuslife.Inadditiontotopicslikeworkenvironment,workingconditions,facilitiesandconveniences,thesurveyincludedquestionsondiversityandinclusion,andwasopentoLamontersofallranksandtitles.TheaggregatedsurveyresultsweredisseminatedtotheLamontcommunity.

DiversitySeminar

Thisinitiativeisaimedatpromotingawarenessontheimportanceofdiversityandinclusionintheacademicworkplace.InvitedspeakerstalktotheLamontcommunityaboutdiversityissues–withrespecttogender,race,ethnicity,implicitbias,STEMdiversity,harassment,socialpsychology,andothers.LamontSeniorStaff

OriginallylimitedtotenuredDEESfacultyandseniormembersoftheLamontResearchProfessor(LRP)/DohertyResearchScientist(DRS)track,theLamontSeniorStaffnowincludesseniormembersoftheResearchScientist(RS)track.TherationaleforthisbeingthatseniormembersoftheRStrackconductvaluablescientificresearchthatcontributestothescientificoutputofLamont.Alsorelatedisthecreationofthenewbylaws,whichclearlydefinedtheoverarchingframeworkwithinwhichtheinstitutionoperateswithrespecttoprofessionalofficersofresearch.

HealthBenefit:AssistedReproductiveTechniques

BasedoninformationprovidedbyaLamontpostdoconthelimitationsofthethenCUpolicyonassistedreproductivetechniques(e.g.,IVF)forwomen,wetooktheissueuptotheProvost’sOffice(viatheCUCommissionontheStatusofWomen)withdatathatallowedustomakeacasetochangetheannuallimittoalargerandmoreflexiblelifetimelimit.TheCUpolicybenefitforassistedreproductivetechniqueswassubsequentlychangedfromanannualtoalifetimelimit.

PostdoctoralSymposium

Thisinitiativeisaimedatpromotingthevisibilityofourpostdoctoralscientistsandfellows,andhighlightingtheirresearch.Thisall-dayeventallowsmembersoftheLamontcommunitytolearnabouttheworkofourpostdoctoralresearchers,andgivesourpostdocsachancetopresenttheirworktotheLamontcommunity.

Office of Academic Affairs & Diversity

GSAPositionStatement

ThisofficecontributedtothecreationofapositionstatementissuedbytheGeologicalSocietyofAmerica(GSA)onRemovingBarrierstoCareerProgressionforWomenintheGeosciences.ThispositionstatementwasofficiallyapprovedandadoptedbytheGSAleadershipin2018followingtheannualGSAconference.

LamontCodeofConduct

TheLamontCodeofConductoutlinescommunitystandardsandexpectationsfortheentireLamontcommunityanditsvisitors.Inadditiontooutliningbehavioralexpectationsitoffersguidelinesforfieldworkandresearchcruises,advisor-adviseerelationships,Columbiaproceduresforreportingandinvestigatingcomplaints,andaglossaryoftermsrelatingtoworkplacemisconduct.

MediaCoverage

Researchactivitiesofthisofficehavereceivedmediacoverage,includingvenuessuchas:Nature,Science,NPRScienceFriday,NewYorkTimes,ScientificAmerican,Eos(AGU),HuffingtonPost,ElEspañol,Smithsonian,InsideHigherEd,Time,ArsTechnica,PhysicsWorld,andothers.

MarieTharpFellowship

NamedafterpioneeringLamontscientistMarieTharp,thisfellowshipwasofferedduring2005-2013,initiallybyADVANCEandsubsequentlybyLamont.ThisfellowshipprovidedawardstoexternalfemalescientiststovisitLamontandworkwithLamontscientistsforadurationofafewmonths.Inadditiontoscientificlearning,thisencouragednetworkingamongfemalescientists.

“WomenintheGeosciences”

Thebook“WomenintheGeosciences”waspublishedbytheAmericanGeophysicalUnion(AGU)andincludesinformationongeosciencedemographicsaswellasguidelinesandsuggestionsforinstitutionalandindividualstrategiesforchange.ItalsoincludesanaccountofLamont’sinstitutionalexperiencewithrespecttodiversityandinclusionfollowingtheADVANCEprogram.

LamontDiversityPlan

AtaskforcewassetuptocreateastrategicplanondiversityforLamont.Theplanidentifiedtopicsandactivitiespertainingto:greaterinstitutionalawarenessandproactiveefforts;searchcommitteesandrecruitment;advancingjuniorstaffandpostdoctoralscientists;visibilityofwomenandmarginalizedgroups;institutionalsupportandfamilyleavepolicies;andinstitutionalresearchanddatacollection.

Office of Academic Affairs & Diversity

Brochure:ExploreACareerintheGeosciences

ThisbrochureisaimedatprovidingbasicinformationonthegeosciencesandLamonttofirstgenerationminoritystudentsinterestedinexploringacareerinthegeosciences.DisseminatedregularlyatdiversityconferencessuchasSACNAS,andalsogivenouttoSSFRPsummerinternsandOpenHousevisitors,thisbrochureoutlinesdifferentfieldsofstudywithinthegeosciences,andofferscareerrelatedinformation.

LDEOSalaryStudy

Followingthe2009salarystudyconductedbytheOfficeoftheProvost,wedidasalarystudyonourprofessionalofficersofresearch(Dohertyscientists,Researchscientists,postdocs)comparingsalariesatdifferentrankswithrespecttogenderandrace.ResultsweredisseminatedtotheLamontcommunity.

WomeninScienceNetworkingLunch

Atthisluncheonevent,womenscientistsfromthenortheastUSregionwereinvitedtoLamonttotomeetwithLDEOwomenscientists,andoffercareeradvicetojuniorwomenatLamont.Approximately60womenscientistsattendedthisevent,whichwascoveredinEos,theAGUmagazine.

SSFRP:“NotestoMyYoungerSelf”

Aimedatpromotinginclusivityandmentoring,thissession,forsummerinternsoftheSecondarySchoolFieldResearchProgram(SSFRP),discussedtopicspertainingtothefirstgenerationcollegeexperience.Thegoalwastoarriveatguidelines/adviceforhighschoolstudents(especiallyminorityfirstgenerationstudents)whoareconsideringgoingtocollege.Participantssharedtheirownexperiencesandthoughts,andthosecollectivethoughtsandexperienceswerecompiledintoadocumentanddisseminatedtothenewerstudents.

U.S.StateDepartmentVisit

FollowingtheinstitutionalizingoftheADVANCEprogram,LamontwasoneofthecampusesselectedforasitevisitbyadelegationvisitingtheUSaspartofajointUSStateDept./UNprogram.Thevisitorswereseniorwomenfacultyandresearchersfromdifferentcountries(somerepresentingministries)tolearnaboutthebestpracticesofourADVANCEprogramanditsinstitutionalizationatLamont.

ImplicitGenderBiasResearch

Astudyongenderdifferencesinlettersofrecommendation(using1,200+lettersfrommorethan50countries)examinedletterssubmittedfortheLamontpostdoctoralfellowshipapplicationstoshedlightonthelanguageusedinrecommendationlettersformaleapplicantsversusfemaleapplicants.Thisstudy,publishedinNatureGeoscience,hasbeenincludedwithotherstudiesinconversationsaboutgenderdiversityandinclusionwithinthelargergeoscienceandSTEMcommunity.

Office of Academic Affairs & Diversity

WorkshopsandDiscussions

Overtheyearswehaveheldapproximately50events(workshops,symposia,informationsessions)forpostdoctoralandjuniorscientists.Topicshaveincluded:howtowriteagrantproposal;mentoring;howtowriteadiversitystatement;non-academiccareersinscience;work-lifeissues;careerdevelopment,talkingtothemedia;andothers.

ImplicitBiasTraining

Theofficeconductsbiastrainings,andhasmadepresentationsonimplicitbias,stereotypethreat,andSTEMdiversityandinclusiontoabroadrangeofaudiencesbeyondLamont.Theseinclude:NSF-ADVANCENationalConference;thebroaderColumbiacommunityandNewFacultyOrientations;AGU;HERC;NCAR-AGCI;Univ.ofSouthernDenmark;andothers.WomeninScienceatOpenHouse

AimedatpromotingvisibilityofLamont’swomenscientists,thiseventhighlightedtheworkandaccomplishmentsofourwomenscientists.IndividualcomponentsofthiseventincludedscreeningaslideshowtovisitorsatOpenHouse,aswellasapaneldiscussiononwomeninscience.TheslideshowhasbeenusedtopromoteLamont’sfemalescientists.

ColumbiaWideInitiativesandEfforts

ThisofficeparticipatesinColumbia-wideeffortsondiversityandinclusion,includingtheCommissionontheStatusofWomen(abodyoftheColumbiaUniversitySenate),andtheUniversityLifeTaskForceonDiversity,InclusionandBelonging.

Contact:kdutt@ldeo.columbia.edu.

Checkoutourwebsite:https://diversity.ldeo.columbia.eduformoreinformation.

Office of Academic Affairs & Diversity