Removing Barriers to Science and the Outdoors for Teenage Youth and Early Career Professionals in the US Arctic and Beyond: An Expedition-Based Model

Inspiring Girls* Expeditions is a global organization that empowers 16- to 18-year-old youth through 12-day backcountry science and art expeditions, including in the US Arctic and Subarctic. Because science and outdoor fields are historically white- and male-dominated, Inspiring Girls* follows an intersectional approach to welcome youth with marginalized genders, people of color, Indigenous people, and other marginalized groups into these arenas. Inspiring Girls* also provides professional development for early career scientist, artist, and outdoor guide instructors. We discuss how Inspiring Girls* leverages our own research as well as best practices from the literature to prioritize such strategies as intentionally building diverse teams, offering a tuition-free format, and participating in community learning to reimagine the inclusivity of science and outdoor fields in the Arctic and beyond.

Citation

Young J, Clement S, Pettit E. 2023. Removing Barriers to Science and the Outdoors for Teenage Youth and Early Career Professionals in the US Arctic and Beyond: An Expedition-Based Model. Sibirica. 22-1: 33-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3167/sib.2023.220103.