{
  "id": 6523850,
  "title": "Four in five researchers report harmful interactions during geoscience fieldwork. A new survey suggests a path forward.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/four-in-five-researchers-report-harmful-interactions-during",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-10T02:20:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-interactions-geoscience-fieldwork-survey-path.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent survey conducted by Anne U. Gold and colleagues reveals that four out of five geoscience researchers have experienced harmful interactions during fieldwork. The study, published in AGU Advances, highlights the prevalence of problematic behaviors such as aggression, bullying, sexual harassment, and professional misconduct like gatekeeping and devaluation of work.\n\nFieldwork, a crucial component of geoscience research, involves collecting data in remote locations under challenging conditions. While safety guidelines exist, many researchers report a range of issues, from minor annoyances to severe breaches of personal boundaries. The survey, which included 289 AGU members, aimed to assess the frequency of harmful interactions, their impact, and potential solutions for improving safety and inclusivity.\n\nThe findings show that 80% of participants reported at least one harmful interaction during fieldwork, with an average of five incidents per respondent. Identity-based harms, such as sexual behavior issues and stereotyping, were common, but professional conduct issues like gatekeeping and sabotage had the most negative impact. Women, nonbinary individuals, and early-career researchers were disproportionately affected.\n\nCareer stage also played a role, with early-career researchers more likely to face uncomfortable sleeping arrangements and pressure to drink alcohol. Remote sites saw higher instances of some behaviors, such as pressure to engage in unsafe activities. Notably, 75% of the most impactful incidents went unreported, emphasizing the need for better safety training, enforced codes of conduct, and accessible reporting mechanisms to ensure geoscience fieldwork is safe, fair, and ethical for all participants.",
  "summary": "Fieldwork is a vital part of geoscience research, allowing scientists and students to directly observe, interact with and collect data about Earth processes that cannot be replicated in the lab.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}