IGS Diversity Committee Launches 'Mentorship' Initiative

Personal stories from a range of high profile IGS members are set to be shared in a new initiative by the IGS Diversity Committee (DC).

The IGS DC wants to widen the debate on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by sharing the thoughts and experiences of a range of members. Formats being explored include interviews, webinars, panel discussions and short talks.

Leading the initiative, IGS DC member Giulia Lugli said: "Our goal is to promote DEI awareness, primarily focusing on the working environment using engaging formats to share unconventional and impactful DEI topics with the IGS audience.

"We hope to organize activities every few months in different formats, such as webinars, interviews or panel discussions, depending on the topic and participant availability.

"We hope the sessions will foster continuous engagement and education on DEI topics, serving as a platform for underrepresented voices, including women and ethnic minorities, but also somewhere to share experiences and insights on practical strategies for inclusion."

The Committee is recorded its first interview with IGS President Samuel Allen at the recent GeoAsia8 conference in Brisbane, Australia, with key insights from the recordings to be shared on social media.

The IGS Diversity Task Force formed in fall 2023, and was this year upgraded to full Committee status. Led by IGS Secretary General Laura Carbone, the Committee currently has 23 members working towards raising greater awareness about diversity issues, improving member empowerment, and growing networking opportunities.

To find out more, or to get involved, Ms Carbone can be contacted through the IGS Secretariat's office at igssec@geosyntheticssociety.org.