RESEARCH, COLLABORATION, MENTORSHIP, AND LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES AS AN ON TO THE FUTURE ALUMNUS

Advancement in any domain requires strong authentic collaboration between diverse researchers, educators, mentors, and outreach initiatives, amongst several other criteria and Geosciences is not an exception. There needs to be diverse and broader community engagement programs for geoscience researchers, educators, and mentors together to create a diverse, inclusive and a better and stronger geoscientific society. In this regard, I am extremely thankful to the On To the Future (OTF)” program of the Geological Society of America (GSA) for its commitment and recruitment of diverse students from communities underrepresented in the geosciences every year to attend their first GSA annual meeting. I was a 2017 OTF fellow and each of the planned OTF events during GSA 2017 created a huge impact on me and my professional development as a geoscientist. It was a defining moment for me to be a part of such a diverse and supportive cohort and be able to attend one of the biggest geology conferences in the USA. It is through this program I realized how important mentorship, networking, and eventually leadership is.

In this presentation, I will share and discuss my mentoring, outreach and science communication experiences since being an On To the Future fellow in 2017. Second, I will share my Paleontological research work and recent contribution to geoscience education projects. Third, I will talk about my leadership initiatives and how working with different GSA groups helped enhance my understanding (and importance) of collaboration and communication; and finally, talk about the various DEI workshops and initiatives (such as URGE and RISE) that I have been a part of through these years as an attempt to become a better mentor and individual.

Just as we are all unique individuals, so are our stories, experiences, culture, and motivation. So, it is more important than ever for all of us to work together for a better scientific society. In GSA connects 2023, I signed up for an OTF mentor, to share my knowledge and experience with the incoming OTF fellows. I strongly believe in the GSA’s diversity motto - “Diversity makes our science better”; and as an OTF alumni, I take it as a responsibility to create a diverse environment and safe workplace for everyone.