This summer has been rife with what I can only describe as a continuous barrage of attacks. For many of us, our spring semesters were rudely interrupted by a pandemic. It is nearly four months later and we are grappling with the reality that we will likely not be returning to our regular campus activities until 2021. In the midst of adjusting to this new normal, we were reminded of the harsh reality of systemic and codified violence against Black people in the United States. And just this past week, we have seen our international students face the unprecedented offense of having their rights to pursue an education and contribute to the collective culture of academic spaces threatened. 

I can only describe these last months of spring and first months of summer with one word: disruption. Merriam-Webster defines disruption as a break or interruption in the normal course or continuation of some activity, process, etc.. Each of the above events has produced a significant disruption to the continuation of life as usual. Summer field seasons have been cancelled, thus inhibiting progress towards graduate degrees (which are difficult to obtain even under the best of conditions). Conferences and other large public gatherings have likewise been postponed. It is rapidly becoming clear that there will be no return to “normal” - whatever that even meant in February. When we do return, it is clear that all of our spaces - personal, public, professional - will be reshaped immensely by the actions we are taking right now. 

Disruption does not have to be negative. It does, however, have to be uncomfortable. To turn disruption into productive transformation requires stretching, reflection, and courage. It requires collective action. We have seen excellent examples of collective action these past few months. We have seen students and professionals come together to call out professors, researchers, and others who have discriminated against or threatened the safety of others on the basis of their gender, sexual orientation, race, or ethnicity. We have watched as thousands gather to protest police brutality, and the power of small-unit leadership to bring together successful campaigns highlighting Black people in STEM. Petitions have led to concrete proposals and actions in bringing perpetrators of violence to justice. Scientific societies have offered free memberships and designated specific funding to support BIPOC members. 

In the process of witnessing these shining examples of what has been done right, we’ve also seen many more examples of responses to crises done wrong. Many organizations have released statements of support that are tone-deaf or simply fall short of transformative change. Student members of these organizations, especially in scientific and professional societies, have been leading the charge to demand more. In the spirit of collective action, a group of such students came together this summer to craft an open letter to the professional leadership of scientific and professional organizations. We are excited to share this draft with you now to get your comments, suggestions, and feedback. Together, we hope to harness our power as emergent leaders in these organizations to transform this era of disruption into one of change, growth, and creation of equity, diversity, inclusion and justice in the professional spaces we occupy and will inherit. 

To read the full letter, visit: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jLE2DPydcvqzUD2Ol3rvKK8MKXA2PykIEqtPxEmqZ5E/edit?usp=sharing. We ask that any comments be submitted through this anonymous Google form: https://forms.gle/e5AuEZdK3JvHBnYQ7. 

Steffanie Munguia is pursuing a PhD in Earth Systems Science at Florida International University in Miami, FL. Her research evaluates the implementation of the Ramsar Convention at coastal wetland sites throughout the Caribbean to better understand decision-making processes affecting some of our most important ecosystems. She is also the Student Section Chair-Elect, and serves on the boards and youth councils of several environmental non-profits. Follow her on Twitter.