ENCOURAGING, EXCHANGING AND ENHANCING – MENTORING365 IS A PERFECT FIT FOR AWG’S MISSION

The Association for Women Geoscientists (AWG) was founded in 1977 to provide opportunities for women geoscientists to come together and support each other. Today we have expanded to a global organization that strives to support under-represented groups in the geosciences with 42 chapters in five countries and individual members in 23 countries. Our mission is to encourage participation and to enhance the professional growth and advancement of women in the geosciences and to exchange educational, technical, and professional information. Mentoring is an excellent means to advance our mission, and in 2017 AWG agreed to be one of the early partner organizations to the American Geophysical Union’s Mentoring365 program. Since 2019, 54 long-term AWG mentoring relationships have been completed. A highlight of this program is that it provides access to a global network of geoscientists from a diversity of backgrounds and professional skills, thus students and young professionals can exchange ideas with people outside their own institutions. Common goals of mentees are to 1) discuss graduate school selection and application processes and 2) explore career paths and receive guidance on finding and obtaining a professional position. Additional topics that frequently arise in long-term mentoring relationships are work-life balance, time management, assistance with resumes, preparing talks or posters, writing and publishing, grant writing, networking, and dealing with difficult professional relationships. Mentors most commonly report the desire to support and assist the next generation of geoscientists as their reason for volunteering. The most important components of successful long-term mentoring relationships, in our experience, are for the mentee to have clear objectives, for both mentor and mentee to be committed to the relationship, and for both to feel a connection to and be open with each other. Forming a connection is essential because meetings are taking place remotely. In addition, the mentor must be able to provide support through their own background, or to locate resources and contacts, in the areas the mentee is seeking. AWG will continue to increase awareness and involvement in Mentoring365 across our platform as a vital outreach component and to enhance the experience of young geoscientists.