Conference Proposal: Diversifying the 2022 AOS-BC Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico

像大多数其他科学领域一样，鸟类学(对鸟类的研究)缺乏对健康、充满活力和多产的研究领域至关重要的多样性。近年来加快了扩大科学参与的急需的努力，特别是在使科学对历史上被边缘化或排斥的群体的个人更加欢迎和包容方面。此外，休闲观鸟的流行和越来越多的志愿者参与以鸟类为主题的公民科学项目，使鸟类学成为呼吁科学多样性和包容性的焦点。美国鸟类学会(AOS)和加勒比鸟类协会(BC)2022年联合会议将成为扩大鸟类学领域参与的活动的强大平台。作为两年多来两个协会的第一次面对面会议，并在波多黎各举行，AOS&Amp；BC 2022将有很多人参加，并将提供非同寻常的强大培训和外展机会。通过汇聚如此多具有不同观点的个人，这次会议肯定会将鸟类学推向新的方向。这个项目将对鸟类学学科的多样性和包容性产生直接影响。首先，多样性和包容性旅行补助金以及护理者补助金将确保参会者的多样性。支持波多黎各当地人出席的资金将进一步加强这种多样性。所有这些与会者都将参加更广泛的科学会议、培训研讨会和指导/网络活动。此外，该项目将支持三个讲习班，直接讨论扩大鸟类学参与的问题。总而言之，AOS&Amp；BC 2022的这些努力直接导致了一个更广泛、更具包容性的学科，并将为未来旨在使鸟类学和其他STEM学科更加多样化的努力提供坚实的基础。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。

Like most other areas of science, ornithology (the study of birds) lacks the diversity that is critical to a healthy, vibrant, and productive field of research. Much-needed efforts to broaden participation in the sciences have accelerated in recent years, particularly with respect to making science more welcoming and inclusive to individuals from groups that historically have been marginalized or excluded. Moreover, the popularity of recreational birding and the increasing number of volunteers participating in bird-themed citizen science projects has put ornithology in the spotlight with regard to calls for diversity and inclusion in the sciences. The joint 2022 conference of the American Ornithological Society (AOS) and BirdsCaribbean (BC) will be a powerful platform for activities to broaden participation in the field of ornithology. Being the first in-person meeting for either society in over two years, and being held in Puerto Rico, AOS & BC 2022 will be very well attended and will provide unusually strong training and outreach opportunities. By bringing together so many individuals with such diverse perspectives, the conference is certain to push ornithology in new directions.This project will have direct impacts on diversity and inclusion within the discipline of ornithology. First, Diversity and Inclusion Travel Grants, and Caregiver Grants, will ensure a diverse pool of attendees. This diversity will be further enhanced by funds to support attendance by local Puerto Ricans. All of these attendees will participate in the broader scientific sessions, training workshops, and mentoring/networking events. Additionally, this project will support three workshops that will directly address broadening participation in ornithology. Together, these efforts at AOS & BC 2022 directly lead to a broader and more inclusive discipline, and will provide a solid basis for future efforts aimed at making ornithology and other STEM disciplines more diverse.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.