26 January, 2022

The first observations from the Diversity in UK Polar Science Initiative (DiPSI) describes the efforts required to create a more inclusive workplace in UK polar science. The editorial is published this month (January) in the scientific journal Antarctic Science.

The editorial Diversity in polar science: promoting inclusion through our daily words and actions focuses on the lack of diversity within polar science in comparison to the wider UK population, and the most important activities and actions to improve this.

A person wearing a hard hat and sunglasses posing for the camera
British Antarctic Survey Engineer, Nicole Logan-Park.

Dr Huw Griffiths, who sits on the DiPSI steering committee, is lead author of the editorial. He says:

“Our initiative started in 2019 and one important lesson that we learned through this journey is that real change requires investment, commitment, humility, and leadership with a desire to make a difference and lead by example: goodwill alone is not enough.

“These challenges are not confined to polar research in the UK, and those of us lucky enough to have privilege and positions of influence need to use our voices to ensure that global polar research is a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone whilst integrating inclusive thinking into the everyday fabric of our processes and organisations.”

Diversity in polar science: promoting inclusion through our daily words and actions by Huw J. Griffiths, Pilvi Muschitiello, Geraldine Hough, Nicole Logan-Park, Donna Frater, Katharine R. Hendry and Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley is published in the journal Antarctic Science here.