Resources
We believe that learning is essential to transformation.
So we have pulled together a working archive of some of our favorite readings, activities, media and tips & tools. As we learn about and gather more resources, we will upload them here. You can filter by subject and then resource type below (activities, media, readings, tips & tools).
The Occasional Flimsiness of Group Agreements
Have you ever sat through a meeting or class where someone read off a list of jargon-y “community agreements”? This piece digs into how agreements like “Make Space, Take Space”, “One Mic”, and “Oops, Ouch” can sound powerful but often fall flat if no one really understands or practices them. The author ponders our reliance on shorthand, rhymes, and jargon to tackle complex concepts, and points out that without real systems of support and accountability, these agreements become more like wishlists than lived culture. How might we make these agreements more meaningful? Instead, she argues, agreements should be treated as living practices, backed up by intentional actions that make people feel safe, empowered, and connected. To learn more, click here.
Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in interdisciplinary marine science
Interdisciplinary marine science is pivotal for addressing ocean sustainability challenges. One research team asks: “does it bring together individuals and groups from diverse socio-economic, cultural, or identity backgrounds, or does it favor only certain groups?” This paper argues that minority groups still face systemic barriers, discrimination, and elitism in the field. It synthesizes three key messages: (1) diversity is essential for high-quality interdisciplinary marine science, (2) interdisciplinary research can add unique challenges for minority groups, and (3) the field risks exclusion, prejudice, and elitism without deliberate DEI action. To address this, the authors present ten recommendations for building more inclusive, equitable, and representative research communities. For them, fostering DEI is an ethical imperative for tackling pressing global ocean challenges. If we can value diverse voices, knowledge systems, and lived experiences, interdisciplinary marine science can advance more just, innovative, and impactful solutions for ocean sustainability. To learn more, click here.
Disability@Work: Are your hiring practices disability-inclusive?
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability, EARN, promotes the adoption of workplace disability policy strategies and effective practices. In addition, EARN provides resources and technical assistance to help organizations of all sizes recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities. Their Disability@Work framework outlines core components and a menu of strategies for hiring and accommodating employees with disabilities. The framework covers seven themes: recruitment, talent acquisition, accommodations, communication, accessibility, accountability, and a supportive culture. To learn more, click here.
Building Resilient Organizations
“Building Resilient Organizations” examines the crises facing progressive movements and social justice groups, from toxic workplace cultures to deep divisions over values and strategy. Maurice Mitchell argues that these tensions are shaped by outside forces such as market-driven politics that prioritize profit over people, the rise of authoritarian governments that restrict freedoms, and persistent systemic inequities. They are also fueled by internal patterns like insisting on only the most extreme positions and rejecting leadership by treating all leaders as untrustworthy. The article offers a framework for building organizations that work well by focusing on clear roles and decision-making, a shared vision and purpose, practical plans, and a respectful culture. To learn more, click here.
Guidelines for Creating Inclusive Field Research Safety Protocols
Field research is integral to many scientific disciplines, but researchers from marginalized identities often face disproportionate risks, including discrimination, harassment, legal threats tied to identity, inaccessible field environments, and compounded challenges for those with intersecting identities. These risks can threaten physical safety, limit participation, and exacerbate inequities in disciplines such as ecology, evolutionary biology, and conservation science. This paper provides guidelines for developing inclusive field safety manuals, helping researchers recognize identity-based safety concerns, understand relevant institutional policies, and adapt example protocols to their own contexts. Overall, the authors offer a practical framework for making field research safer and more equitable for all participants. To learn more, click here.
The History of Natural History and Race: Decolonizing Human Dimensions of Ecology
This article looks at how natural history—the close observation of organisms in their natural habitats—has long been central to ecology but also carries a deep history of racism. It explores how early European scientists linked human differences to the environment in ways that placed Europeans at the top of a racial hierarchy. This thinking fueled colonialism, justified slavery, and dismissed the ecological knowledge of non-Europeans. The authors highlight examples of Black ecological knowledge that developed under and in resistance to slavery, and they argue that recognizing and including their knowledge can make modern ecology more inclusive and effective. To learn more, click here.
Environmental and Climate Justice Syllabus
The Environmental and Climate Justice Syllabus gathers readings, case studies, and biographies from Black, Indigenous, and Latinx leaders’ works. It stresses the need to include ideas from outside of the U. S. and the Global North. It also touches on how issues like disasters, energy, and food justice are connected to environmental and climate justice. The syllabus began as a crowd-sourced Twitter campaign and remains an open, evolving resource bank. Its curated assortment of readings on climate and environmental justice spans several decades, giving useful insight into how the discipline has grown and transformed over time. To learn more, click here.
Critical Orientations: Indigenous Studies and Outdoor Education
This free online course from Oregon State University integrates Indigenous studies concepts into traditional outdoor education curricula. It provides a foundational grounding in: 1) land acknowledgment, 2) colonization, 3) Native representation in outdoor education, 4) sovereignty and self-determination, 5) curriculum analysis using the “6 P’s,” and 6) land-based education. Critical Orientations equips participants to critically assess how Indigenous peoples are included and represented in outdoor education. The course is designed to debunk misinformation and challenge common assumptions about Indigenous peoples and cultures. Learners will explore bias, misrepresentation, and appropriation, while discovering alternative frameworks that foreground the knowledge, leadership, and contributions of Indigenous communities. To learn more, click here.
Rethinking Species Language — Just Language in Ecology Education
The Just Language in Ecology Education “Resources” page is a compilation of articles, media, essays, and books that challenge traditional “native” versus “invasive” species frameworks. Its contents highlight Indigenous perspectives, critiques of xenophobic language in ecology, and proposals for alternative criteria. The collection blends scholarly research, podcasts, videos, and creative writing to encourage reflection on the cultural and political implications of ecological terminology. To learn more, click here.
Unfencing the Future: Voices On How Indigenous and Non-Indigenous People and Organizations Can Work Together Toward Environmental and Conservation Goals
This report aims to inform and support non-Indigenous conservation groups and environmental funders in working with Indigenous communities. The guide emphasizes collaborative relationship built on time, listening, understanding, and a willingness to let go of power and control, moving beyond typical transactional “grants”. It delves into the history of colonization, land theft, and the exclusion of Indigenous peoples from conservation efforts, which created a significant disconnect. To foster successful partnerships, the guide highlights key themes for non-Indigenous organizations: prioritizing genuine relationships, ensuring inclusivity from the design stage, supporting Indigenous leadership in decision-making, and providing flexible, long-term funding. It strives toward “gadugi” (helping each other) and shared environmental and conservation goals, recognizing that Indigenous communities can drive meaningful and collaborative change. To learn more, click the button below.
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