40 YEARS OF RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF WOMEN IN THE GEOSCIENCES: A PERSPECTIVE FROM THE ASSOCIATION FOR WOMEN GEOSCIENTISTS (AWG)

The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) was founded in 1977. It originally began as a grassroots gathering of women in the San Francisco Bay area, called the Bay Area Association of Women Geo-Scientists. Their goals were to encourage mentorship, exchange geologic information developed and researched by women, and to enhance the career growth of women in the geosciences by providing professional contacts, informational networks, and workshops on professional skills. The organization grew rapidly and was officially incorporated as a 501(c)6 non-profit organization in 1983. Shortly thereafter, they also established the AWG Foundation as a 501(c)3 non-profit public benefit organization in 1983. Today, AWG serves over 1000 members across the globe, with 5 international chapters and 28 US chapters. Over the past 40 years, the organization has developed and implemented a variety of strategies aimed at the recruitment and retention of women geoscientists. Throughout its history, AWG geoscientists openly communicated the challenges women face in obtaining inclusion and equity, as well as issues relevant to communicating the importance of science to society. AWG’s lasting achievements include professional awards recognizing women’s career successes, student scholarships supporting undergraduate and graduate women, a Distinguished Lecturer Series, and engaging field trip programs. Recent efforts include a webinar series and mentoring programs. This discussion will review the strategies used, identify and analyze the barriers faced when implementing them, and conclude with a reflection on the type of sustainability model needed to continue these strategies in the future.