The Committee on Diversity (COD) IDEAS subcommittee tackles the original core mission of the COD: To address underrepresentation of racialized minority scholars in biological anthropology. In 2016, the COD launched the Increasing Diversity in Evolutionary Anthropological Sciences (IDEAS) program. IDEAS is an NSF-Funded, multi-pronged initiative that addresses training, mentoring, and public outreach.

In a 2018 Yearbook of Physical Anthropology article, the IDEAS Committee Chairs published recent demographic data on the Bioanthropological discipline in the U.S., specifically as it relates to representation of minority and underrepresented minority (or racialized minority) scholars, as well as the history of the AABA's COD and its IDEAS program.


IDEAS WORKSHOP

The annual IDEAS Workshop typically includes a day-long science and mentoring workshop for undergraduate and graduate students the Wednesday of the AABA meetings, networking events throughout the meeting, and a virtual mentoring network throughout the year. You can learn more about the workshop and IDEAS Faculty here.

If you are interested in sponsoring additional IDEAS scholars or building satellite workshops in your local area into your Broader Impacts programs, please contact Ripan Malhi ([email protected]) or Susan Antón ([email protected]).

IDEAS SCHOLARS

The AABA congratulates our 2018 IDEAS scholars and our 2019 IDEAS scholars.


IDEAS EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH & RECRUITMENT

• SACNAS: The AABA and IDEAS faculty sponsor a booth at the SACNAS undergraduate STEM recruiting fair each October.  With IDEAS Scholars and Students we disseminate information about biological anthropology and careers in the discipline through this recruitment fair.  We are also developing scientific programming for this annual event – please contact Susan Antón or Teresa Wilson if you are interested in participating.
• School Site Visits: In collaboration with the AABA Education Committee, IDEAS  Scholars participate in school site visits. Please contact Chrisandra Kufeldt if you are interested in participating in school visits in Los Angeles in 2020!
• IDEAS videos feature conversations with Biological Scientists about their research and path to a career in biological anthropology.  The videos are the result of the collaboration between the AABA, the National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported IDEAS Scholars' Project, and the BOAS Network.

COMMUNICATION & MEDIA
The IDEAS group maintains the following media and communication accounts:

• Facebook: The COD facebook page is administered by Kerry Dore and Isis Dwyer.
• COD Listserv: The listserv aims to facilitate discussion on topics of diversity within biological anthropology, to build connections and mentoring relationships among biological anthropologists from underrepresented groups as well as those members interested in diversity in the field, and to provide a forum for all members of the AABA interested in such discussions. The list is administered by Susan Antón and Phoebe Stubblefield. Any AABA member may join the list by following these instructions.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Susan Antón

Jada Benn Torres
Agustín Fuentes
Ripan Malhi