The lack of diversity in ocean sciences is stifling innovation. Critical actions are needed to create a supportive culture and shift toward equity centric systems. New England Ocean Science Education Collaborative (NEOSEC) has engaged in a yearlong process to increase access to ocean science throughout New England. NEOSEC as a collaborative of 48 institutions has been working to promote ocean literacy in New England since 2005. When we look around our own table, we lack racial diversity. We have partnered with Dr. Kerrie Wilkins-Yel, a psychologist who specializes in understanding the influence of oppression and marginalization on the academic and career development of women from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds in STEM disciplines. She has led us to explore different frameworks and histories through critical reflection such as BRIDGE by Ruchika Tulshayn, the 6 forms of Cultural Capital from Tara Yasso, and Equity Ethic by Dr. Ebony McGee. With her guidance and our reflections, we are building critical agency among ourselves. We are working to understand our own positionality and the dominant identities within ocean science and to expand NEOSEC membership to include organizations who already work with minoritized communities. We undertake this work to improve our own collective intelligence and create a culture necessary for innovation, while supporting our vision that all individuals and communities are engaged in ocean science learning in New England and are welcomed and supported to have a strong relationship with the ocean.

Primary Presenter: Aimee Bonanno, University of Massachusetts Boston (aimee.bonanno@umb.edu)

Authors:

Aimee Bonanno, University of Massachusetts Boston  (aimee.bonanno@umb.edu)

Bob Chen, University of Massachusetts Boston  (bob.chen@umb.edu)

Kerrie Wilkins-Yel, University of Massachusetts Boston  (kerrie.wilkins@umb.edu)