1. Greetings from the Executive Director
Dear Friends and Colleagues of the IAGD Community,
The IAGD network has been fairly quiet over the past few months, but the IAGD Executive Committee has been busy working on many exciting new projects.
Thanks to support from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), we are working to roll-out an entirely new website including new resources to support persons on the Autism Spectrum and those with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This fall, we will host another accessible field trip before the 2017 Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA. At the end of the GSA meeting, we are co-sponsoring a two-day mentoring workshop in Seattle. This NSF-funded workshop will explore effective mentoring strategies for mentors of students from underrepresented populations, as well as share ways mentees can engage in successful mentoring relationships. More information about each of these opportunities is available throughout this newsletter.
This year, we have had several opportunities to exhibit the IAGD network of resources at several meetings and conferences. For the remainder of the year, look for us at the National Association of Black Geologists (NABG) in Atlanta and the GSA Annual Meeting in Seattle. All of this is possible through donations made to the IAGD Foundation. The growth of the IAGD is a direct reflection to the generosity of the IAGD community. Remember, 100% of all donations received support these IAGD programs and activities.
This November, the IAGD enters its tenth year. During the fall of 2018 we will celebrate ten years as a community with several events happening during the annual meeting, among others. As we reach this milestone, I ask each of you to reflect on your own journey over these ten years. For many of you, the awareness of access and inclusion has impacted you, or some of your students personally. For others, this awareness encourages us to improve our instructional strategies, classroom and workplace environments to include the talents and abilities of everyone. Creating awareness to improve access and inclusion is an important initial step, but we must go beyond merely creating awareness. How are you putting your understanding into practice?
The IAGD is an organization of opportunity; a community that students and geoscientists with disabilities engage in, share ideas, experiences and support, and continue to grow in their academic pursuits and career pathways. As representatives of the community, the IAGD Executive Committee volunteers their time and energy to creating accessible opportunities to geoscience students, faculty, and practitioners. If you are interested in serving on the Executive Committee, or have ideas to lead or take part in any events or activities that promote access and inclusion in the geosciences, we want to hear from you!
As always, please inform us of any personal updates to your contact information, and let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions for improving the IAGD community. Please keep in mind that with the new website in development, there may be a slight delay in getting new members added to the network.
Cheers!
Chris Atchison
