Anita Marshall facts for kids
Anita Marshall is an American scientist and activist. She studies how to make geoscience (which is the study of Earth, like rocks and land) more welcoming for everyone, especially people with disabilities. She also shares her own experiences as a disabled geologist.
Education and Career
Anita Marshall earned her PhD in geology from the University of South Florida. A PhD is the highest degree you can get in a subject, showing you are an expert. Today, she teaches geology as a lecturer at the University of Florida. A lecturer is like a college professor who teaches students.
She has been featured in a book called Breaking The Mold by Dana Levy. This book is for middle-grade readers and is about scientists who found their own unique paths in science. She also had a small part in a documentary film called Brink of Disaster: Miami Sinking.
Research and Activism
Many people, including the US Business Leadership Network, see Anita Marshall as a leader in making science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields more open to people with disabilities.
Research has shown that many geoscientists believe you need to be very physically strong to have a successful career in geology. Because of this, people with disabilities are not often seen in geology jobs. Dr. Marshall works hard to change this idea through her studies and her activism. She once told PBS NewsHour, "If you think about it, the moon is also inaccessible. Mars is inaccessible. And yet we do science on them anyway." This means that even if you can't physically go everywhere, you can still do important science.
Dr. Marshall is the Director of Operations for the International Association for Geoscience Diversity. This is a non-profit group in America that focuses on geoscience and disability. She also led a project called GeoSPACE. This project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), helps students with limited movement take part in geology field work. Field work means studying rocks and land outside. Her team uses technology and teamwork to make sure all students, including those with disabilities, can fully participate, whether they are in the field or working from home.
Dr. Marshall is also a member of the Choctaw Nation, which is a Native American tribe. She works to increase diversity in STEM for many different groups of people. As a disabled Indigenous woman in geoscience, she represents several groups that are not often seen in STEM fields.
Awards
- University of Florida College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Excellence in DEI Award, 2023
- EXCEL Media Gold Award for a special article called "Creating Spaces for Geoscientists with Disabilities to Thrive", 2021
- Rising Leader for students with disabilities, DisabilityIN, 2017
