Presented by Hao Ye, University of Florida & Molly Phillips, Florida Museum of Natural History, iDigBio.

Abstract

Natural science collections are, by their nature, collaborative and cumulative, and benefit from the inclusion of diverse people with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Yet many of us recognize that our workplaces, and STEM at large, are not welcoming to all, even after decades of efforts. It is increasingly clear that one of the challenges is that we lack training in turning our shared values into action. In this talk, I will introduce ally skills as a path to change. An ally is a member of a social group that enjoys some privilege that is working to end oppression and understand their own privilege (Frame Shift Consulting). We introduce ally skills via workshops offered by the Gainesville Ally Skills Network. In these workshops we teach people how to recognize when they have power and influence to act as an ally and take effective action to make their workplace more inclusive.

About the authors

Hao Ye is a lapsed computational ecologist with a background in computer science, psychology, and oceanography. As the Reproducibility Librarian at the University of Florida, Hao teaches and promotes open science and reproducible research practices to empower individual researchers, and lower or dismantle gatekeeping barriers. With training from FrameShift Consulting, Hao is an active member of the Gainesville Ally Skills Network, providing workshops and talks about the importance of allyship to increase inclusion and
equity in the academy. @Hao_and_Y

Molly Phillips is a biologist with a background in evolution, ecology, and natural history, which includes a decade working in natural history collections. As the iDigBio project Education, Outreach, Diversity, & Inclusion Coordinator (EODI), Molly is responsible for coordinating and implementing the EODI activities of iDigBio and communicating and facilitating coordination and networking among other initiatives in order to promote, encourage, develop, and implement collections-based EODI programs. Molly is also an active member of the Gainesville Ally Skills Network. With training from FrameShift Consulting, this group provides workshops and talks about the importance of allyship to increase inclusion and equity in academia. mphillips@flmnh.ufl.edu / @StellarSquirrel @iDigBio

Presented in the third session of the ‘Decolonising Natural Science Collections’ NatSCA online conference, 19 November 2020.