Regardless of the discipline, outdoor learning experiences commonly place an implicit expectation on the physical, sensory, and social abilities needed to work collaboratively and navigate the rugged, ever-changing and often unpredictable, natural environment.As a result, most field-focused science disciplines marginalize those who do not match the identity of a traditional field practitioner. This marginalization is derived from an assumed deficit in the inability of the student rather than addressing the inaccessibility of the way in which field studies are conducted.

To catalyze a cultural shift toward inclusive instructional practice, the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (IAGD), a non-profit organization based in Cincinnati, Ohio, was formed in 2008 to address the barriers of access and inclusion in the Earth sciences. By focusing on inclusion, the IAGD is strengthening the entire community of learning by encouraging the broad participation across the spectrum of ability. This presentation will discuss the work of the IAGD as an evolution in geoscience education, embodying elements of universal and inclusively designed teaching and learning that can be transferred across science disciplines in both formal and informal instructional settings.

свернуть