Getting Involved: Initiatives
Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (IDEEAS)
The IDEEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences) working group was formed organically as a grassroots group with a desire to foster inclusion, belonging, community, and equitable access in EAS. Self-selected from the full cross-section of the department, any member of EAS is welcome to join, and they actively promote diversity among students, administrative staff, research staff, and faculty. IDEEAS is not a committee; they are a collective.
IDEEAS won the Social Justice Award from OISE and the Graduate ad Professional Student Diversity Council which was featured in a recent Cornell Chronicle article.
For more information about how to get involved, please visit the website.
Diversity Equity Inclusion and Anti-Racism (DEIAR)
DEIAR is a department-appointed committee dedicated to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Open letter to the community from DEIAR
EAS PostDoc/Research Associate Peer Mentoring Group
Starting a PostDoc in an unfamiliar place and can be challenging, but the Cornell EAS PostDoc/Research Associate peer mentoring group is here to create connections and facilitate mutual support during this unique career period. The group meets regularly throughout the semester to support each other through knowledge sharing and to help develop a wide range of beneficial skills. We rotate through topics such as the transition to living in another country and culture, the academic and industrial job application process, and how to improve on our communication skill set. As a diverse cohort, this group provides the space to share life experiences and support each other — whatever stage you are at.
We also use this space to get to know each other and plan social events to help build a community. Some examples of social events include hiking, going to some of the many events which occur on the commons in Ithaca, and other activities within the wider area. The group is open to all EAS PostDocs and Research Associates, and we would love to get to know you more!
Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE)
In the spring of 2021, a group of EAS department members formed a 'pod' to participate in the NSF-funded Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE) curriculum. URGE organized a series of biweekly readings and expert interviews aimed at deepening our knowledge of the effects of racism on the participation and retention of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people in Geoscience. Pods from over 300 institutions around the world participated. The pod produced a set of 'deliverables' in which we considered ways to make department policies more anti-racist; these can be found online. The pod continues to work on how these ideas can be integrated into the policies and practices of the department, and welcomes all interested participants.
AGU Bridge Partnership
Cornell’s Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) has been selected to be an American Geophysical Union (AGU) Bridge Partner, a program across academic institutions in the United States that is dedicated to recruiting and retaining underrepresented students in geosciences grad programs.
NSF Geopaths
The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Initiative is a Foundation-wide effort to accelerate improvements in the quality and effectiveness of undergraduate education in all STEM fields including the learning, social, behavioral, and economic sciences.
Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Student Association (EASSA)
EASSA is the undergraduate club open to EAS majors, minors, and other students interested in earth and atmospheric sciences. Their goal is to provide academic resources for undergrads and help students build connections with each other and faculty across the department. During the semester, they organize information sessions to help students develop skills to further their careers, as well as social events to build a sense of community. In previous years, EASSA has brought students on geology-related field trips as well. This semester, EASSA hopes to provide undergrads with a strong sense of belonging as they enter and explore the major, with virtual info sessions on graduate school preparation and undergraduate course selection, as well as social events like Netflix watch parties and more!
If you are interested in learning more about EASSA and getting involved in EAS, contact the club directly.
Snee Graduate Organization (SGO)
Snee Graduate Organization seeks to provide a medium for professional and social interaction both within and outside of EAS. They typically meet once a month to discuss various issues pertinent to the grad student experience and plan events as a group. In the past this has all occurred in person, with meetings typically taking place in the Snee Hall reading room (with food). For the foreseeable future all meetings and events will take place virtually. They have had success in previous months with virtual happy hours, trivia nights, and movie viewings but are open to any suggestions you may have.