Invitation to contribute to a conversation about equity in plant science

Culture change in the biological sciences is an urgent priority; it is foundational to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the discipline. Culture change will require broad, sustained, and innovative approaches to drive and sustain meaningful and lasting changes.

Professional societies are uniquely positioned to help facilitate culture change in their disciplines. In 2021, a group of plant science organizations was awarded a Research Coordination Network (RCN) grant through NSF BIO-LEAPS to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the plant sciences through leveraging the leadership, broad reach, and unique ability of professional societies to enact culture change. This RCN, ROOT&SHOOT (Rooting Out Oppression Together & SHaring Our Outcomes Transparently), seeks to effect lasting cultural changes through broad, sustained, and innovative approaches.  

We invite you to participate in open discussions about the topics of equity, inclusion, diversity, and accessibility in our organizations and plant science more broadly.

These conversations will take place on:

• Tues., April 12 from 2-3pm ET (11am-noon PT)
• Thurs., April 14 from 5-6pm ET (2-3pm PT).

We want to hear from you about your experiences navigating your professional spheres, so that we can collectively identify and work to address processes that are inequitable or opaque. The RCN has funds to support working groups and we need your help to identify how these funds should be allocated.

Please join us to:

• Learn more about the goals and plans of this RCN.
• Share your ideas, thoughts, and concerns.
• Learn how you can get involved.

Register here: https://forms.gle/AeMeThHsbB86g1Ei8 

Please note that although the issues we are investigating through this project are global in nature, we will focus our initial actions and discussions on the situations and challenges in the US.

After you register, an email will be sent to you with a Zoom link and calendar invitation.

Questions? Contact Marcia Puig-Lluch, RCN Program Facilitator, at marcia@rootandshoot.org.