SY031-0006
Pride in Polar Research

Thursday, 10 December 2020
Poster
Alexander Thornton, Pride in Polar Research, Fairbanks, AK, United States; Polar Ecology, LLC, Fairbanks, AK, United States, Iqra Choudhry, Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, Manchester, United Kingdom, Emily Choy, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, Meagan Dewar, Federation University, School of Health and Life Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, Huw J Griffitths, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, United Kingdom, Stanislav Ksenofontov, Ammosov North Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk, Russia, Joseph Nolan, European Polar Board, The Hague, Netherlands and Stephen J Roberts, NERC British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Abstract:
Inclusivity, equity, and diversity benefit all of Polar research, helping the community to realise its full potential. Pride in Polar Research (PiPR) was established when an early career researcher reached out to the community ahead of the POLAR2018 conference in Davos, seeking solutions to the isolation and discrimination issues they faced as a queer and intersex scientist. What began as a plea to other members of the community to be more visible by wearing rainbow badges quickly developed into a group actively working to combat biases through community development and education. PiPR is inclusive, welcoming all Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics identities (LGBTQIA+ and others). Since the first meeting in Davos, attended by >30 conference participants, PiPR has received support from SCAR, IASC, and other organisations, established Twitter (1400+ followers) and Facebook (200+ followers) accounts, and a moderated mailing list (100+ members), becoming an internationally recognised network.

PiPR is working to establish a more formal structure and is cooperating with Women in Polar Science, Minorities in Polar Research, other intersectional groups and allies across academia to build on its initial successes. Beyond supporting, connecting, and raising the visibility of members of our community, PiPR will produce resources intended to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion within Polar research. One priority is to provide practical advice to individuals and groups organising workshops, conferences, fieldwork, etc., on how best to be as inclusive and welcoming as possible, given the many different barriers that members of the PiPR community face worldwide.

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