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Geoscience Researchers Report Harmful Interactions During Fieldwork
Confirmed
In Short: A new survey reveals that four in five geoscience researchers have experienced harmful interactions during fieldwork, highlighting the need for improved safety measures.
According to a new survey, four in five geoscience researchers report experiencing harmful interactions during fieldwork, underscoring the need for improved safety measures. The survey, which combined historic measurements with data from the Dark Energy Survey, found that 80% of participants had experienced at least one harmful field interaction, with the average respondent reporting five such incidents.
Participants in the survey identified a range of harmful behaviors, from identity-based issues such as inappropriate sexual behaviors and assumptions or stereotyping, to professional conduct issues like gatekeeping, sabotage, and devaluation of work. These behaviors were reported to be the most negatively impactful, often occurring in remote locations where personal boundaries can be easily crossed and safety compromised.
Shared housing, uneven power structures between students and professionals, remote locations, and long workdays can increase the likelihood of harmful field interactions. Women and nonbinary researchers were disproportionately affected by devaluation of their work, bullying, unwanted sexual attention, and invasions of privacy. The survey also found that the National Science Foundation, the largest agency funding field-based research, provides safety guidelines, but many researchers still report a range of problematic behaviors.
In response to these findings, researchers asked participants what could be done to make geoscience field research safer and more inclusive. Suggestions included better training, clearer policies, and more support systems for fieldwork participants. The survey highlights the importance of addressing these issues to ensure a safer and more equitable research environment.
Another study, published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2003 to 2018. The study compared 174 women who reported a history of cervical cancer with 870 matched participants who did not report the disease. Researchers found that women with diets richer in several antioxidant nutrients had substantially lower cervical cancer prevalence, an association that remained after accounting for other influences. This suggests that diet could play a role in reducing the risk of cervical cancer.
What's confirmed
- According to a new survey, four in five geoscience researchers report experiencing harmful interactions during fieldwork, underscoring the need for improved safety measures. The survey, which combined historic measurements with data from the Dark Energy Survey, found that 80% of participants had experienced at least one harmful field interaction, with the average respondent reporting five such incidents.
- Participants in the survey identified a range of harmful behaviors, from identity-based issues such as inappropriate sexual behaviors and assumptions or stereotyping, to professional conduct issues like gatekeeping, sabotage, and devaluation of work. These behaviors were reported to be the most negatively impactful, often occurring in remote locations where personal boundaries can be easily crossed and safety compromised.
- Shared housing, uneven power structures between students and professionals, remote locations, and long workdays can increase the likelihood of harmful field interactions. Women and nonbinary researchers were disproportionately affected by devaluation of their work, bullying, unwanted sexual attention, and invasions of privacy. The survey also found that the National Science Foundation, the largest agency funding field-based research, provides safety guidelines, but many researchers still report a range of problematic behaviors.
- In response to these findings, researchers asked participants what could be done to make geoscience field research safer and more inclusive. Suggestions included better training, clearer policies, and more support systems for fieldwork participants. The survey highlights the importance of addressing these issues to ensure a safer and more equitable research environment.
- Another study, published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2003 to 2018. The study compared 174 women who reported a history of cervical cancer with 870 matched participants who did not report the disease. Researchers found that women with diets richer in several antioxidant nutrients had substantially lower cervical cancer prevalence, an association that remained after accounting for other influences. This suggests that diet could play a role in reducing the risk of cervical cancer.
What's still developing
- Participants identified instances and provided additional details, such as whether they experienced or observed the harmful behavior, the relationship between perpetrator and victim, the career stage in which the event occurred, whether the field site was in a remote or accessible location, and whether the incident was reported or not.
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