February 2019
On February 15, AERA and dozens of other organizations representing the science, technology, engineering, math, and medical fields launched the Societies Consortium on Sexual Harassment in STEMM. The aim of the consortium is to advance full participation and excellence in STEMM and to prevent and respond to sexual and gender harassment in STEMM environments. The consortium will develop resources and guidance to effectively address sexual harassment in the member societies’ own operations and more broadly in the fields they represent. As of February 27, 72 organizations have joined the consortium.
The STEMM consortium also will develop best practices and model policies on such issues as honors and awards. The scientific community has collaborated to work to promote safe and inclusive environments in light of a recent report from the National Academies, Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
AERA Executive Felice J. Levine serves on the consortium’s executive committee.
“I could not be more honored and pleased to serve on the Executive Committee,” said Levine. “The consortium holds tremendous promise of addressing issues of climate and culture in our associations, in institutions of higher education, and in the other places where science resides.”
“Working across so many scientific societies gives us a great opportunity to build upon our collective concerns and to collaborate on innovative practices and policies,” Levine said.
AERA’s involvement in the consortium follows on several activities that the association has undertaken to engage with issues of sexual harassment in academia. This includes supporting the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act, holding panels on sexual harassment at multiple AERA meetings during the year, and emphasizing harassment policies at the AERA Annual Meeting.
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