Associate Professor, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes diverse leaders from around the world, representing various identities, voices, and perspectives. List any identities, voices, and perspectives you would bring, including but not limited to nationality, regional representations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and any other identity you feel comfortable sharing.

I am a white, British, female with the neurodevelopmental disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

As an executive councillor (2017-2019) for the International Association of Geoscience Diversity, I co-founded its U.K.-based chapter Diversity in Geoscience, UK. This charitable organization aims to improve equality, diversity and inclusivity within the U.K. geosciences. As part of this role, I give talks to raise awareness of the challenges faced by underrepresented groups, particularly with respect to fieldwork.

I was a member of the AGU’s working group for the most recent education positional statements.

As one of the elected leaders of your section, how will you partner with your president and president-elect to communicate with and engage your members to help implement AGU’s strategic plan including its mission and vision?

As secretary for the Education section, I would work with the president and president-elect to co-create an internal communications and engagement plan. The aim would be to ensure members understand and can take ownership of our strategic goals, and the mission and vision that underpin them. The mission of supporting and inspiring our members requires opportunities for different groups to convene as well as for the next generation of scientists to be educated and inspired. The vision is about sharing how Earth space sciences can be used for the benefit and prosperity of all. The three goals cover catalysing discovery science to address global challenges, partnering with other organisations and sectors in those endeavours, promoting and exemplifying an inclusive scientific culture. I bring 20 years of educational experience of inspiring the next generation of young people to support the first goal; experience of working within and between organisations (e.g., working with multiple organisations to set up Diversity in Geoscience, UK) to support the second goal; and, my own expertise in equality, diversity and inclusion, from my lived experience and research interests, to help directly deliver, with real authenticity, the “Promote and exemplify an inclusive scientific culture” goal. In combination with the skills, knowledge and expertise of the president and president-elect, we would inspire current members, potential new recruits, partners and potential partners alike, by increasing contact with members via initiatives such as “speak to the team” online Q&A sessions and building on our current range of communications.

Section affiliations:

Education; Natural Hazards; Science and Society; Tectonophysics