The Role of Professional Societies in Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility in the Fields of Coastal and Ocean Science

Abstract

Professional societies are critical agents of change for making the field of coastal and ocean sciences more diverse, equitable, inclusive, just, and accessible because their leadership and programming engage students, educators, researchers, and professionals in a range of sectors. Societies reach community members in academia, industry, nonprofit organizations, and government at all levels, and with geographic scope that ranges from local to international. Professional societies can act as standard setters for their disciplines, exemplifying and amplifying promising practices in the field, and assisting members with adopting these practices at their home institutions. The functions of professional societies can be parsed into categories that describe the unique ways they serve their memberships and their fields, all of which impact the professions’ cultures. In this paper, we assess the role of professional societies in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility (DEIJA) in the field of ocean sciences across a range of societal functions. We also highlight some actions that coastal and ocean science-focused professional societies are taking to integrate DEIJA into each of their functions to improve the culture of ocean sciences.