Response by Alycia L. Stigall for the presentation of the 2016 Schuchert Award of the Paleontological Society

Abstract

Thank you, Bruce, for your generous words. I deeply thank the Paleontological Society for recognizing me with this honor. I truly am very grateful and humbled to be selected as the 2016 Schuchert Award recipient. As a brachiopod worker who grew up Cincinnati, the Charles Schuchert award holds special significance to me. It is a great joy to receive this award bearing the name of such a notable Cincinnatian brachiopod worker. I am also deeply honored to now be included among the prestigious set of 44 prior awardees. It is particularly gratifying as I am only the fifth woman to receive this award, and first woman who was a mother at the time of the award. Alycia L. Stigall I am extremely thankful to be a paleontologist today. Paleontology is becoming an ever more inclusive and collaborative science. As I look out from this podium, I see a wonderful diversity of paleontologists, diversity of scientific approaches, diversity of focal taxa, diversity of gender, diversity of ethnicities and nationalities. Our diversity makes our discipline stronger. However, barriers to full and equitable participation in science for women and minorities remain considerable. Implicit bias, higher expectations, under-recognition, harassment, and isolation remain substantial concerns. As a society …