An ad hoc committee will undertake a study to ascertain the impediments, including past social policies leading to marginalization, and identify evidence-based approaches for increasing the racial and ethnic diversity and Indigenous, Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native American participation in the ocean studies workforce. Within this context, the committee’s report will identify specific strategies to guide future activities to advance the adoption of evidence-based practices and policies for increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, accessibility and justice (DEIBAJ) in the ocean studies community.
The study will include the following:

• Collection of existing narratives from ocean enterprise professionals representing historically excluded, or marginalized, racial, ethnic, Indigenous, Alaska Native, American Indian, and Native American groups to help clarify the variety of barriers that exist and the losses caused by these barriers not only to ocean studies but also to the individuals themselves. This will include consideration of intersectionality for other identifiers such as gender, sexual orientation, disability, native country, religion, and others. The committee will have the option to collect additional narratives, if they determine that this would be of substantial benefit for the community and their report.
• Analysis of policies, strategies, and practices of current and previously funded ocean studies programs that have sought to build more diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environments. This analysis will include identification of what has been successful and the metrics used to define success across a broad array of ocean studies institutions and potential examples from other STEM fields.
• Development of explicit goals in a coordinated strategy across ocean studies that relates to each element of DEIBAJ.
• Identification of metrics to evaluate progress in the implementation of recommended strategies such as by educational institutions, government agencies, and other organizations (e.g. conservation groups, ocean industries) that employ experts in ocean studies.