Advancing Collaborations for Equity in Marine and Climate Sciences (ACE-MCS)
ACE-MCS is a National Science Foundation-funded collaborative research project focused on examining a multi-organizational partnership among six predominantly white institutions in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. This initiative seeks to advance equity in marine and climate sciences by fostering collaboration and addressing systemic challenges.
The ACE-MCS Research Project Aims To Achieve Five Goals
Goal 01.
Provide an account of the racial realities in marine and climate sciences (MCS) and the Woods Hole (WH) Scientific Community from the perspective of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This goal centers BIPOC voices and experiences as the foundation for understanding systemic racism and anti-racism in this study.
Goal 02.
Identify key factors that have supported and/or challenged an anti-racist ethos among WH-affiliated scientists, labs, educational institutions, and the local community. This goal examines the cultural, institutional, and interpersonal dynamics that shape progress toward anti-racism and equity in these interconnected spaces.
Goal 03.
Unearth the processes and strategies involved in developing anti-racism work and building supportive infrastructure within the Woods Hole Collaborative Network (WHCN). This goal highlights the steps taken, challenges faced, and progress made in embedding anti-racism as a core value in WHCN.
Goal 04.
Provide lessons learned to the WHCN that can support the advancement of their anti-racism work. This goal focuses on compiling insights from BIPOC experiences and anti-racism efforts to inform future initiatives and strengthen the WHCN's collaborative approaches.
Goal 05.
Develop a replicable and scalable model for antiracist-centered support in MCS collaborations. This goal aims to design a framework based on the study's findings that can be adapted to various contexts, ensuring sustained and impactful anti-racism efforts across MCS partnerships.
Collective action for meaningful impact.
Woods Hole Collaborative Network
The ACE-MCS project focuses on a multi-organizational collaboration in Woods Hole between six institutions- Marine Biological Laboratory, NOAA Fisheries, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), United States Geological Survey (USGS), Sea Education Association (SEA), Woodwell Climate Research Center.
Collectively these institutions collaborate on three key initiatives namely the Woods Hole Diversity Initiative (WHDI), The Woods Hole Partnership Education Program (PEP), and Diversity Advisory Committee (DAC). For the purposes of this project, we refer to these institutional collaborators and their activities as the Woods Hole Collaborative Network (WHCN).
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Chrystal George Mwangi, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor of Higher Education
George Mason University
highered.gmu.edu
Jennifer M. Johnson, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Dean of Student Success
College of Education and
Human Development
Temple University
jmjohnsonphd.com
Vijay Kanagala, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor of Secondary
and Higher Education
McKeown School of Education
Salem State University
Onjalé Scott Price, MBA
Co-Principal Investigator
Director, The Woods Hole Partnership
Education Program (PEP)
Co-Chair, The Woods Hole
Diversity Advisory Committee
oscottprice.com
Christina W. Yao, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor of Higher Education
University of South Carolina
christinayao.com
RESEARCH TEAM
Marisa Lally, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Higher Education
George Mason University
highered.gmu.edu
Gabriel Duran
Project Manager
Chesapeake Research Consortium
chesapeakebay.net
Sherika Casseus
Graduate Research Assistant (2024-2025)
M.Ed. Student, Higher Education in Student Affairs
Salem State University
Eunjin Han
Graduate Research Assistant (2024-2025)
Ph.D. Student, College of Education and Human Development
George Mason University
Truc Nguyen
Graduate Research Assistant (2024-2025)
Ph.D. Student, Higher Education
University of South Carolina
Amani Rush
Graduate Research Assistant (2024-2025)
Ph.D. Candidate, Educational Psychology
Temple University
Elizabeth R. Jackson
Graduate Research Assistant (2024)
Ph.D. Candidate, Policy, Organizational and Leadership Studies
Temple University
In order to inform our understanding of the historical and contemporary practices of the WHCN, ACE-MCS relies on the expertise of members of WHCN community who also identify as BIPOC. Our Steering Committee members each work in professional roles within MCS and have participated in the PEP program as undergraduates and/or currently work with DAC or WHDI projects. Their insights and expertise are central to the iterative improvement of our research activities through the formal assessment of strategies. The Steering Committee will provide periodic guidance to ensure the project is addressing its stated goals, and centering equity in program design, implementation, and management.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Nigel Golden, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Woodwell Climate Research Center
woodwellclimate.org
Jacqueline Hung, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Woodwell Climate Research Center
Paloma Lopez
Research Associate
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
André Price
Marine Resource Management Specialist
NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center
While ACE-MCS investigates an area of inquiry that has been largely overlooked to date (anti-racism work in MCS), it is informed by and aims to build upon the work of NSF-funded researchers who have examined adjacent issues to guide and evaluate our efforts. The PIs have identified advisory members who are BIPOC faculty with expertise in STEM education and social science methods.
ADVISORY BOARD
Brian A. Burt, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Education
University of Wisconsin-Madison
brianaburt.wordpress.com
Brian McGowan, Ph.D.
Professor, School of Education
American University
american.edu
National conference presentations
Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) -November 2024 - Towards a Critical Race Onto-Epistemological Consciousness: An R3 Approach For Racial Equity-Driven STEM Collaborations
American Geophysical Union (AGU) - December 2024 - Advancing Anti-racist Collaboration in Marine and Climate Sciences: A case study of the Woods Hole Collaborative Network
American Geophysical Union (AGU) - December 2024 - BRAID: A Novel Alliance Approach to Broadening Participation in Geosciences
American Educational Research Association (AERA) - April 2025 - It’s A Very White Place: Racial Realities in Undergraduate Science Education for BIPOC Geoscientists
Contact us.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Numbers: George Mason University: #2314915 | Salem State University: # 2314916 | University of South Carolina: #2314917 | Temple University: #2314918.
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.