Uncover the Hidden Histories of Scientists at Goldschmidt 2025
Under-representation remain a chronic problem in science, and geochemistry is no exception. Scientists from under-represented groups often become lost in the noise of history due to neglect and/or lack of documentation. The EAG-DEI Committee aims to highlight this through the “Hidden histories – Towards equity, diversity and inclusion in geosciences” workshop on Thursday 10 July from 13:00-14:00, where participants engage in discussions on overlooked stories of scientists. Here co-facilitators Pieter Bots (Concrete4Change, UK), Ernest Chi Fru (U. Cardiff, UK), and Carla Tiraboschi (U. Perugia, Italy) shed light on the role the workshop plays in diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Hidden Histories workshop started in 2020, when Pieter Bots was tasked with creating a workshop for the (then) remote Goldschmidt conference. “I thought it would be a good idea to tell some of those stories behind the people… that we generally don’t hear about because they’re not western, they’re not male, they’re not straight”, Bots said. With the help of Bettie Higgs from the University College Cork, Ireland, he created a workshop where participants could discuss the scientists’ stories, “to highlight how far we’ve gotten with inclusivity, but also that we are still not there”.
Carla Tiraboschi, also a co-facilitator at the in-person workshop in 2023 echoed the sentiment, “We often think of history in terms of discoveries, milestones, and success in general, but there are many important narratives that have been overlooked, forgotten, or deliberately excluded.”
Though Bots himself encountered a few challenges in making the workshop interactive and engaging for the participants in 2020, going from a remote-only workshop to an in-person lunchtime workshop at Goldschmidt 2023 in Lyon, France was a complete transformation. “I was genuinely delighted by the full room, the openness of the participants, and the engagement throughout the session.” Tiraboschi noted. “These are moments where we can truly witness the community grow, not just in knowledge, but also in empathy.”
Prof. Ernest Chi Fru summarized the importance of the Hidden Histories Workshop: “Telling the hidden histories of scientists is essential not just for understanding the development of scientific knowledge, but central to the promotion of EDI in the present and future of science… when we embrace a broader history of science, we are more likely to value different ways of knowing and accepting diversity.”
If you are interested in hearing more about a different side of history to scientists and participate in diversity, equity, and inclusion at Goldschmidt, we are happy to welcome you to the workshop.