Providing a welcoming learning environment and reducing barriers to participation in our field have long been an explicit part of our department mission. ESS has made, and continues to make, a concerted effort to address barriers to inclusion in geosciences, recognizing that recruitment and retention of women and minority groups has been a significant challenge in STEM fields, particularly the geosciences.
We receive between 150 and 200 graduate-student applicants per year, with around half of applicants self-identifying as women and ~15% as underrepresented minority (URM). Women and URM applicants receive offers of admissions at the same rate (about 10% each) as the general population of applicants, and accept those offers at our average acceptance rate (~40%). Our faculty diversity has increased significantly over the last two decades.
Many of our faculty are leaders in diversity-related intitiatives at the national level, through organiziations such as NSF, GSA, and AGU. We have a policy that at least 1/3 of our department colloquia are by scholars from groups that have been historically underrepresented in our field.
Formal Statement on Diversity approved by the Faculty in 2022
The Department of Earth and Space Sciences (ESS) values diverse experiences and perspectives, the constructive expression of ideas, and the promotion of creativity, intellectual curiosity, and mutual respect. Science is richer and the community is more vibrant when a diverse group of people is involved. The Department is proud of our efforts in the recruitment and retention of students, staff and faculty from marginalized groups, and the role that they play in our community. ESS is committed to diversification, and to working toward equity. We welcome everyone into our community.
Diversity Committee
The department supports a student-led Diversity Committee (with a faculty mentor) whose role to provide an early-career perspective on activities and policies in the department, with the goal of maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive program. The scope of the Diversity Committee include such activities as making recommendations for improvements to department practices, working with faculty on specific changes to policy, and supporting student-centered activities. The Diversity Committee works directly with the faculty-led Policy Committee and other faculty-led commmittees. (For a full list of department committee and current membership, see, Faculty and Student Committee List.)
The Diversity Committee welcomes suggestions! Students are also encouraged to contact their Graduate Student representives — or bring ideas directly to department leadership — if they have ideas on Diversity and Inclusion.
Other Information
You can find the College of the Environment’s statement and additional resources on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion here, as well as the University of Washington’s commitment to diversity.