Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

As a Japanese-American in geoscience, I've often found myself as the only person of color in geology spaces. I'm working to increase the diversity in the discipline, specifically within cryosphere and field sciences. I work with several groups whose aim is to promote EDI efforts in earth/polar sciences and regularly present at, or attend, workshops focusing on these causes. One of my goals within academia outside of research is to create a welcoming and inclusive community within the geosciences for people from all backgrounds.

Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in Geoscience (AAPIiG)

AAPIiG is a grassroots organization that works on increasing the number of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in geoscience and supporting AAPI who are currently in the discipline. While not underrepresented in STEM as a whole, AAPI are still underrepresented in geosciences [1, 2, 3]. I serve as communications director for AAPIiG and am a member of the steering committee. Additionally, I organize virtual and in-person meetups for AAPI geoscientists to meet and connect.

Polar Impact

Polar Impact is a group working to "support, connect, and highlight the stories of Black, Asian, Indigenous, people of color, and minority ethnic professionals in the polar research community." As a co-organizer, I help facilitate many of their efforts, primarily by developing field guides and helping with administration. I also regularly present at conferences and workshops on behalf of Polar Impact.

Unlearning Racism in Geoscience Education (URGE) at the University at Buffalo

I am the co-organizer for the University at Buffalo URGE pod, where we are participating in URGE curriculum and working to improve EDI efforts in our department. After the initial URGE programming, we have continued our efforts to provide education to the department by onboarding faculty and students and continuing monthly reading groups.

Presentations / Panels

I have frequently presented and served on panels discussing issues of EDI in the geoscience on behalf of AAPIiG and Polar Impact. These include:

Invited panelist, BAJEDI Roundtable Discussion, AGU LANDInG Postdoctoral Research Fellows Program Annual Meeting, 2023
Invited panelist, Challenges and Successes in Fostering Safe and Inclusive Working Environments in the Field, at International Arctic Science Summit Week 2023 in Vienna, convened by the National Science Foundation
Invited speaker and panelist, Workshop in Race and Systemic Bias in Arctic Science, at International Arctic Science Summit Week 2023 in Vienna, convened by the International Arctic Science Committee
Co-convener for AAPIiG AGU 2022 Town hall
Invited speaker, Workshop on Inclusion and Safety in Field-Based Environmental Sciences Research hosted by Newcastle University in 2022
Numerous conference abstracts - see section on publications page

Presenting on behalf of Polar Impact at the 2023 Arctic System Science Summit Week

Other EDI efforts

Graduate student representative, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, University at Buffalo, Department of Geology, 2020 - 2023
- I served on the EDI committee for our department, acting as a liasion between the graduate student association and the faculty, and assist and consult on developing the EDI initiatives for UB Geology.
Underrepresented Minorities in STEM Mentor, Middlebury College, 2018 – 2019
- I was a mentor for the Underrepresented Minorities in STEM program at my alma mater, where they paired older students with younger students – both from minority backgrounds – interested in pursuing a major in STEM.

Additional Trainings/Workshops

Geology Department Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training, Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, University at Buffalo, 2023
Cultivating Leadership for Change and Justice Workshop, American Geophysical Union, 2021
Inclusive Excellence Summit, University at Buffalo, 2021