Update on Our Action Plan for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity in Publishing at JGR: Biogeosciences

Abstract

We made a commitment to better include underrepresented members of our community in the publication pipeline of JGR: Biogeosciences. This commitment consists of regular updates on our policies and practices, and concrete actions we intend to implement over the next year. So far, our progress to tackle biases and ensure equitable research in the biogeosciences has focused on improving diversity of our associate editor and reviewer pools, increasing awareness of unconscious bias in peer‐review, and promoting inclusion in global collaborations. In this update, we explore manuscript submissions and manuscript decisions by gender, and we present a pilot that aims to promote ethical and equitable global collaborations in resource‐poor settings. We end our editorial by presenting our next set of actions that we plan on completing over the next year, which include a more thorough analysis of reviewer demographics.

AGU Publications Updates Authorship Policy to Foster Greater Equity and Transparency in Global Research Collaborations

“…The Editorial Board of JGR: Biogeosciences, together with the AGU Publications' Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Sub-committee, made a commitment to accelerate efforts to advance transparency, equity, and inclusion to publishing in the geosciences. As part of this commitment, the journal piloted an initiative to push authors toward more transparent, ethical, and equitable global research collaborations (Xenopoulos et al, 2023). The pilot followed the principles of, and encouraged authors to adhere to, the recommendations outlined in the TRUST CODE-A Global Code of Conduct for Equitable Research Partnerships (TRUST, 2018) during the planning, execution, and reporting stages of their research.…”

Not Enough: Efforts to Diversify Biogeosciences Benefit Limited Segment of Society

“…The addition of open-access journals and uptick in publication of diversity, equity, inclusivity and accessibility research across the AGU journals are important, positive steps forward. We welcome the specific steps discussed in the JGR-B editors' update (Xenopoulos et al, 2023), and we ask handling editors to take a more active role in ensuring reviews are respectful, and when they are not, provide written statements sent to both authors and reviewers stating as much. These statements will not erase the harm of disrespectful and mean-spirited reviews on the authors (Silbiger & Stubler, 2019), however acknowledgment can help minimize their psychological impact (Latané & Rodin, 1969) and will signal the values of the journal.…”