My name is Ian Castro and I am a doctoral candidate at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. My primary research area is Geoscience Education, specifically focused on accessibility and inclusion regarding underrepresented groups. My research centers around intersectionality, particularly concerning the intersections of race and disability. I am also an active member of the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (theIAGD.org) and act as Executive Counselor. Through my current position, I help facilitate community within the IAGD, advocate for geoscientists with disabilities, and assist with sharing information about the organization at geoscience conferences.
About
I identify as Puerto Rican/Boricua and Latino and I use he/him/his pronouns. I have several years of experience in researching the paleoecology of the Cincinnatian and in exploring issues of inequity in the geosciences. I also helped design and actively teach an geoscience education course for early childhood, middle childhood, and special education students. Please see my CV for additional information.
Projects
In the past, my research has focused on paleoecology and the construction of Paleozoic food webs. Currently, I am researching the intersections of race and disability through the framework of Disability Critical Race Theory (DisCrit).
I am currently in the writing stage of my dissertation work regarding the intersections of race and disability in the geosciences and plan on graduating in Spring 2025.
Publications/Presentations
Castro, I. O., Atchison, C. L. (2024). Group level assessment as a methodological tool to give voice to disabled geoscientists of color. GSA Abstracts with Programs.
Castro, I. O., Atchison, C. L. (2024). Acknowledging the intersectionality of geoscientists with disabilities to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Earth Science, Systems, and Society, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.3389/esss.2024.10081.
Castro, I. O., Atchison, C. L. (2023). Acknowledging the intersectionality of geoscientists with disabilities to guide diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts. GSA Abstracts with Programs.
Castro, I. O., Atchison, C. L. (2022). Turning theory into cultural change: A discussion on the application of disability critical race theory (DisCrit) in the geosciences. GSA Abstracts with Programs
Castro, I. O., Atchison, C. L. (2022). Disability critical race theory and geoscience: A call to action for new frameworks to assess accessibility and inclusion. GSA Abstracts with Programs
Kempf, H. L., Castro, I. O., Dineen, A. A., Tyler, C. L., Roopnarine, P. D. (2020). Comparisons of Late Ordovician ecosystems before and after the Richmondian invasion reveal consequences of invasive species in benthic marine paleocommunities. Paleobiology, 46(3), 320-336.
Crowley, B. E., Castro, I. O., Soarimalala, V., Goodman, S. M. (2018). Isotopic evidence for niche partitioning and the influence of anthropogenic disturbance of endemic and introduced rodents in central Madagascar. The Science of Nature, 105(1), 44
Recorded presentation for Pal(a)eoPERCS regarding accessible field practices