Amy Riches
Independant, Affiliated with The University and Edinburgh, UK, and the SETI Institute, USA
Co-Chair of the DEI Committee
As co-Chair of the EAG’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee I am thrilled to be working with an impassioned team; bringing geochemists together with shared purpose and assisting the wider community in understanding and tackling bias and barriers that impede both marginalised people and excellent science. As a planetary scientist, geologist, educator, writer / storyteller and editor, I seek to understand how habitable Earth-like planets form and evolve. Are we alone in the universe? With respect to DEI matters I am privileged due to being white, educated in the UK, and having gained from ample top-notch laboratory access in Europe and North America while working collaboratively with high-profile thinkers in various further countries during my career. I’m a woman, have been unwell, come from a humble background, and I’ve gained from a diversified career. Regarding some current unhealthy aspects of scientific working climates (e.g., exploitative practices alongside sometimes horrifying experiences of bias, discrimination and harassment), a senior figure once remarked – in a moment of uncharacteristic defeatism – “Unfortunately, it is the same everywhere”. This I do not accept. Such unhappy outlooks among other people – as well as impacts on mental health and wellbeing – add fuel to my motivation to make positive contributions to EAG’s DEI Committee at its founding. Science and discovery should serve the good of humanity and must include every kind of person. Collective energy and efforts will help to shape a better and more inviting future for science and for all scientists. Our committee calls for everyone to come together to realise truly diverse and inclusive tomorrows as well as the dynamism only then possible. The consequence of such invigoration is in both the greater and the unexpected discoveries that arise through the richness of difference.