Bridging Underrepresented Disaster Scholars and National Science Foundation-funded Resources

Abstract

The intentional inclusion of various perspectives is critical in disaster and hazard research to advance science and promote equitable resilience in a rapidly changing climate. However, historically underrepresented scholars like Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA2S + community members, and women are frequently absent from these efforts. Such exclusions exist as disparities in obtaining grant support, the disproportionate validation of their research or skills, limited training or mentorship opportunities, and implicit biases towards faculty members and students. As a result, many of these scholars, who frequently study communities living in precarious conditions, are absent from utilizing equipment or have limited access to resources that can ultimately assist them in their research efforts. This paper examined the experiences of such underrepresented scholars involved in disaster and environmental-related work to understand the needs, barriers, and opportunities to accessing National Science Foundation (NSF) supported resources. Across 13 key informant interviews, participants reported a myriad of structural barriers that directly impact marginalized scholars and others that limit the capacity of institutions where such scholars frequently work. These barriers exist alongside competing demands placed on marginalized scholars that strain ongoing and meaningful engagement and integration in disaster and hazard research. This study revealed considerations and recommendations for intentionally expanding NSF-funded resources to support underrepresented scholars to advance disaster and hazard scholarship through action-orientation approaches and targeted outreach and engagement strategies.