DCL NSF INCLUDES: Bringing Conversations on Diversity and Inclusion in Data Science to the Ecological and Environmental Sciences

作为一个新兴领域，数据科学具有扩大少数群体参与STEM(科学、技术、工程和数学)的潜力，因为它提供了跨越不同领域的多种职业道路。大型环境数据集的可获得性的增长也导致了对具有数据科学技术技能的多样化劳动力的需求。许多组织支持目前在STEM任职人数不足、有兴趣通过培训、指导和网络机会进入数据科学职业生涯的个人。然而，这些倡议中的许多都是孤立地制定的，限制了交流思想和经验教训的机会。巴特尔纪念研究所及其合作伙伴将主办一个为期3天的会议，以加强各组织之间的倡议，从数据科学职业生涯中代表性不足的群体中招聘和留住个人。与会者将包括：在数据科学领域提供培训和职业机会的学术、培训和商业合作伙伴；就招聘和留住该领域和相关领域中代表性不足的群体进行研究的项目负责人；有意聘用和留住多样化数据科学劳动力的雇主；以及在指导实习生和研究和技术职位的早期职业专业人员方面经验丰富的个人。会议的成果将包括一份会议记录报告；填补在了解数据密集型环境科学职业中代表性不足群体的多种职业道路方面的空白的具体建议；以及继续发展和扩大专注于增加数据科学劳动力多样性的协作社区的战略。对话想法(关于纳入生态和环境科学的数据科学的对话)会议将是一个为期3天的会议，最终目标是发展一个网络改进社区(即环境数据科学包容性网络)，加强现有联盟和组织之间的倡议，从数据科学职业生涯中代表性不足的群体中招聘和留住个人。通过在努力实现共同目标的现有组织和联盟之间建立联系，本次会议将建设它们的能力，为代表不足的群体提供机会和消除障碍。特别努力将目前可能不被称为潜在利益攸关方的合作者引入这些对话，将扩大该网络的影响。会议将围绕潜在职业道路的三个主要组成部分(认识/招聘、培训和留住/指导)在三个可能的切入点(K-12、高等教育、职业转变/晋升)展开。会议活动将旨在解决与每天相关的以下问题：(1)我们试图解决的问题是什么？(2)需要什么专业知识来解决问题？(3)我们的网络如何构建以支持我们的工作？会议的产品将包括一份会议记录报告；对网络的具体建议，以填补我们对数据密集型生态和环境数据科学职业生涯中代表性不足群体的多种职业道路的理解空白；以及网络改进社区的持续发展和扩大的战略。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

As an emerging field, data science has the potential to broaden participation of minorities in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by offering multiple career pathways that span a variety of fields. Growth in the availability of large environmental datasets has also resulted in the need for a diverse workforce with technical data science skills. A variety of organizations support individuals currently underrepresented in STEM that are interested in entering data science careers through training, mentoring, and networking opportunities. However, many of these initiatives have been developed in isolation, limiting opportunities for an exchange of ideas and lessons learned. The Battelle Memorial Institute and its partners will host a 3-day conference to strengthen initiatives across organizations to recruit and retain individuals from underrepresented groups in data science careers. Conference attendees (with selected allied representatives from NSF INCLUDES Design and Development Launch Pilots) will be comprised of academic, training, and business partners that offer training and career opportunities in the data sciences; project leaders conducting research on recruitment and retention of underrepresented groups in this and related fields; employers who have an interest in hiring and retaining a diverse data science workforce; and individuals with experience in mentoring interns and early career professionals in research and technical positions. The products of the conference will include a conference proceedings report; specific recommendations for filling the gaps in understanding the multiple career pathways of underrepresented groups in data-intensive environmental science careers; and a strategy for continued development and expansion of a collaborative community focused on increasing workforce diversity in the data sciences.The Conversation IDEaS (Conversations on Inclusion in Data Science for Ecological and Environmental Sciences) Conference will be a 3-day conference with the ultimate goal of developing a networked improvement community (i.e., Environmental Data Sciences Inclusion Network) that strengthens initiatives across existing alliances and organizations to recruit and retain individuals from underrepresented groups in data science careers. By establishing connections between existing organizations and alliances that are working towards a common goal, this conference will build their capacity to provide opportunities and remove barriers for underrepresented groups. Making special efforts to bring in collaborators that may not currently be known as potential stakeholders in these conversations will broaden the network's impact. The conference will be structured around three primary components of potential career pathways (awareness/recruitment, training, and retention/mentoring) at each of three possible entry points (K-12, higher education, career change/advancement). The conference activities will be designed to address the following questions relevant to each day: (1) what is the problem we are trying to solve?; (2) what expertise is needed to solve the problem?; and (3) how might our network be structured to support our work? The products of the conference will include a conference proceedings report; specific recommendations to the INCLUDES network for filling the gaps in our understanding of the multiple career pathways of underrepresented groups in data-intensive ecological and environmental data science careers; and a strategy for continued development and expansion of the networked improvement community.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.