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（研究鸟类）缺乏多样性，这对健康，充满活力和富有成效的研究领域至关重要。近年来，为扩大对科学的参与而作出的迫切需要的努力加快了步伐，特别是在使科学对来自历史上被边缘化或被排斥的群体的个人更加欢迎和包容方面。此外，休闲观鸟的普及和越来越多的志愿者参与以鸟类为主题的公民科学项目，使鸟类学成为人们关注的焦点，呼吁科学的多样性和包容性。美国鸟类学会（AOS）和BirdsCaribbean（BC）的2022年联合会议将成为扩大鸟类学领域参与活动的强大平台。作为两年多来在波多黎各举行的第一次面对面的会议，AOS BC 2022将有很多人参加，并将提供非常强大的培训和推广机会。通过汇集这么多具有不同观点的人，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赠款和护理人员赠款将确保与会者的多样化。这种多样性将通过资助当地波多黎各人出席会议而得到进一步加强。所有这些与会者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，直接解决扩大鸟类学的参与。总之，这些努力在AOS BC 2022直接导致一个更广泛和更具包容性的学科，并将提供一个坚实的基础，为未来的努力，旨在使鸟类学和其他STEM学科更加多样化。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的支持。

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.