Through ecosystem-based models and storytelling, Dr. Tate-Jones aims to facilitate authentic human connection that promotes inclusivity and equity within the scientific community. She earned her doctorate in Earth Sciences from the University of Oregon, where she studied vertebrate paleontology with a focus on the evolution of seal sea lions and walruses. During this time, however, she came to realize that much of the way the field functioned seemed to be determined by systems of oppression rather than the science itself.
Since creating Refugium in 2022, Dr. Tate-Jones has developed tools to promote equity and inclusion within natural science organizations. She specializes in connecting people from diverse backgrounds with resources to help them meet their goals. She builds networks and facilitates gatherings for people to express themselves through storytelling and other creative arts. "My work is in service of the goal of creating an Earth science and natural science culture that is welcoming and celebratory and supportive for people of all identities. Everyone deserves to have a seat at the table, because we all live on this planet," Dr. Tate-Jones said.
One of the founding principles of Refugium is storytelling. The narratives we tell ourselves about our identities shape how we view our roles in the system, and some of the most impactful changes we experience are driven by stories. Dr. Tate-Jones’s geoSTORIES program (STOrytelling for Resilience and Inclusion in Earth Sciences) embodies this by providing spaces and platforms for people to share their narratives. This initiative creates connections between folks from marginalized groups so that together we can collectively break down barriers and find solutions to our problems.
Dr. Tate-Jones believes that the problems we face today result from a long history of systemic oppression. Just as evolutionary trends emerge from the synergy of countless small-scale events and interactions, these systems of oppression have emerged from the cumulative impact of racist, sexist, and ableist behaviors and policies emplaced by those in the dominant culture. Dr. Tate-Jones emphasizes the importance of combating these processes by driving change at both the personal and institutional levels and by empowering those who come from communities that have historically lacked power.
