Episode 111: Diversity in Palaeontology

Palaeontology is not known for being a very diverse science. Looking around the members at any given conference dinner is a pretty telling tale. The stereotype of white, rugged, cowboy-types can be prevalent, and societies such as the Palaeontological Association have been investigating different aspects of diversity in palaeontology through studies and spotlights on diversity.

In this episode, in conjunction with the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP), we investigate issues of diversity in palaeontology, through interviews with Jann Nassif (PhD student at Ohio University, USA) on being transgender in palaeontology; Professor Taissa Rodrigues (Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil) and Dr Femke Holwerda (Dr Betsy Nicholls Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Canada) about women in palaeontology; and Gabriel-Philip Santos (Collections Manager and Outreach Coordinator at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology at The Webb Schools) about racial diversity. We also spoke with Professor Jessica Theodor (University of Calgary), the Vice President of SVP about what they are doing to increase diversity and address these issues. This episode was recorded in 2019 at the SVP meeting in Brisbane, Australia, but for several reasons has taken us a little while to complete. Given the current discussions and anti-racism activism going on around the world, this is an ideal time to reflect on some of the issues within our science and the ways in which they are being addressed.

Thank you to the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology for cooperating with us and assisting with this interview, and to our interviewees for talking about some difficult topics.

Although this episode focuses on SVP, this is a palaeontology-wide issue. We know that some people will respond negatively to this episode, but it is something that we consider to be important and integral to our science. Discrimination is never ok, and diversity ultimately makes science better. We pledge to interview people from more diverse backgrounds moving forward, and to help amplify their voices.

Dr Femke Holwerda doing some fieldwork in the Morrison Formation in Wyoming, putting together a sauropod tibia fragment.

Dr Femke Holwerda showing a large carcharodontosaurid tooth from the Kem Kem of Morocco used for isotope analysis.

Professor Taissa Rodrigues holding a cast of the giant pterosaur *Quetzalcoatlus northropi* humerus.

Professor Taissa Rodrigues on fieldwork in Antarctica.

Making friends at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia. (Left to right) Eastern grey kangaroos, Jann Nassif.

Celebrating the end of the SVP 2019 meeting in Brisbane, Australia. (Left to right) Jann Nassif, Gabe Santos, Amy Atwater, Khan To. (credit Gabe Santos)

Gabe Santos with Joe the Dinosaur on display in Japan, a specimen housed at the Raymond M. Alf Museum where Gabe works.

The winner of the 2019 Jon C. Graff International Paleontology award, Nadia Rasolofomanana from the University of Antananarivo in Madagascar (right) receiving her award from SVP President Professor Emily Rayfield (centre) and Vice President Professor Jessica Theodor (left). You can read Nadia’s SVP blog here.

Hazel Ratidzo Taruvinga from the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, the 2018 winner of the previously called Scientists from Economically Developing Nations award (now the Jon C. Graff Award). You can read about Hazel’s award in the Zimbabwe media here.

SVP membership by country of residence in 2018

SVP membership by country of residence in 2006

Some changes are visible in the SVP membership by country of residence between 2006 and 2018. Primarily, a decrease in the percentage of North American members overall can be accounted for in the increase of all other regions other than Central/South America. These data come from the 2019 SVP annual membership report.

Thank you to the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, for cooperating with us and assisting with this interview, and to our interviewees for talking about some difficult topics.

Tags: diversity, equality, palaeontology, paleontology, People, SVP, vertebrate paleontology