ISEA stands with Black Lives Matter

As a professional association, The Informal Science Education Association of Texas (ISEA) strongly opposes discrimination and condemns injustice and violence against Black communities. Black Lives Matter. The brutal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Mike Ramos, and so many others are unacceptable. 

ISEA recognizes that the Informal Science community is not as diverse or explicitly anti-racist as it needs to be. The long history of racism in America, at times promoted by informal science education, has led to inequity in STEM Careers, STEM Academia, and in the museums, institutions, and education systems rooted in colonialism and white supremacy. There is a lot of work to be done. 

In 2018, the Informal Science Education Association of Texas adopted a new mission statement: “To inspire, connect, and support the diverse informal science education community in order to strengthen science learning in Texas”.

In order to fulfill that mission, ISEA is committing to:

• Upholding our core values of Connection, An Inclusive Community, and Science-based Learning. 

• Updating our Equity & Diversity Vision Statement and strategies.

• Hosting speakers and programs which amplify voices and perspectives not traditionally heard in our field.

• Expanding diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and equity at our annual conference through scholarships, outreach, and actively offering sessions that address these issues.

• Listening, promoting, and supporting BIPOC voices and reaching out to experts to guide these efforts.

We will strive towards transparency in detailing the work we’ve done in the past and our efforts moving forward. We will work to be a resource to professional informal science educators and institutions. This work will not be quick or easy, and we ask that you, our members, hold us accountable.