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Woods Hole Science Center Hosts Panel Discussion on Diversity in the USGS Workforce
The panel discussion focused on the need to raise awareness regarding attracting women and minorities into the USGS workforce, particularly at managerial levels. Malam provided an engaging and eye-opening overview of workforce trends past and present that illustrate the need for diversity in the USGS workforce. Kimball discussed some of her personal experiences while pursuing a career in marine geology and geophysics, where women continue to be underrepresented. She also emphasized the importance of active participation in recruitment and retention by all USGS employees to ensure the future of the workforce. Finally, Rodriguez and Schwab discussed efforts to identify and attract talented minority students from the City College of New York for work at the USGS; their program, now in its third year, places nearly a dozen interns annually in USGS offices in the Northeast and other parts of the country. In addition, each of the panelists provided an overview of the challenges and strategies that can be pursued to attract and retain women and minority scientists in the USGS. This event, organized by Ben Gutierrez and Claudia Flores, was one of a series of events for Woods Hole Diversity Week 2008. Events hosted by the other institutions had similar goals in stressing the importance of a diverse community in Woods Hole. The now-annual Woods Hole Diversity Celebrations started in response to the creation of the Woods Hole Diversity Initiative in 2004. This initiative brings together the six Woods Hole science institutions to create “pathways of opportunity” that will attract people from underrepresented groups to the Woods Hole science community and science in general. More information about the Woods Hole Diversity Advisory Committee is posted at URL http://www.woodsholediversity.org/.
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in this issue:
Scientists Map Arctic Sea Floor Tribal Canoes Gather Water-Quality Data
Diversity in the USGS Workforce Kvenvolden Honored at International Conference |