Diversity, for me, involves everyone, no matter their background, gender, ethnicity, or sexual preference. Each person deserves an equal chance in life. Diversity is a complex issue; everyone has their perspective on inequality due to historical complexity, personal experiences, and perfect equality. It is up to us to change this complexity and include each individual. Diversity is a needed relationship between any community and the general population. Given the necessity for diversity and inclusion initiatives, I aim to promote equality for those around me. Although I do not have the power to change the world, I at least have the power to impact the people surrounding me positively. I accept diversity with open arms by taking opportunities to learn from different cultures, generations, and other diverse backgrounds. Creating a strong and inclusive environment strengthens everyone's personal growth and creates a more cohesive community that can hugely impact society as a whole.
As a first-generation student, growing up in a financially unstable environment where there was often nothing to eat, I have learned firsthand how many opportunities were out of my reach because I was not society’s ideal individual. Due to growing up in extreme poverty, other challenges arose. Even now, as a Belgian citizen living in the United States, I sometimes encounter ignorant comments that are an example of misunderstanding my culture. To be accepted in specific environments, such as higher education, I often have to sacrifice my own culture and beliefs.
My research interest is in Geophysics, Seismology, and hydrology. Women are still highly underrepresented in the STEM fields. There is already a high threshold to be accepted as a graduate student in STEM, and these standards are often placed even higher. Even when obtaining a master's or doctorate, women are still not taken seriously in their fields.
As the former president of the Idaho State University Geology Club and mentor for the START (Successful Transitions and Retention Track) program, I have seen additional barriers that anyone coming from a non-traditional background has to face. I have been actively working for the last year on the INL (Idaho National Laboratory) R.E.A.L. STEM (Remote and Equitable Access to Learning STEM) project since the summer of 2021 to promote access to STEM education in the state of Idaho. The project is funded by INL in partnership with the Idaho STEM Action Center, with additional support for student internships from the Idaho Space Grant Consortium. The program aims to provide access to the STEM curriculum through remote learning. The website allows upper elementary students living anywhere in Idaho, which is a highly rural state, a chance to envision themselves in STEM careers. Students that are lacking the chance to join STEM summer camps and/or are unable to attend STEM activities in school can start their path to finding a STEM career. In addition to this project, I have also been a part of the Physics Outreach Program for the last two years. This program aims to kindle the fire in some students and their eagerness to join a STEM field.
In conclusion, I have seen that all these programs are something I would like to take with me to graduate school and continue cultivating. I would highly enjoy being part of these outreach programs through my graduate years and into my professional career. One of my personal and professional life goals is to close the existing gap between students from different backgrounds, such as racial minorities, impoverished communities, and rural areas, and to their access to STEM education and future STEM careers. I want to have inclusion and appreciation of diversity, specifically in STEM disciplines, instead of exclusion. As a future professor, it is one of my personal goals that drive me to create a diverse and equitable space for learning and growth.