Wāhine-in-SOEST writing group fosters community for women in STEM

Donuts for our last co-writing session. Photo credit: Katherine Ackerman.

Writing is a fundamental part of academic life, yet few spaces within the university setting are specifically dedicated to writing. Katherine (Katie) Ackerman, a fifth-year PhD candidate in Atmospheric Science, is working to change that.

This past fall, Ackerman launched a bi-weekly co-writing group within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) aimed at both fostering community and addressing academic inequities for women in STEM. The group brought together graduate students, post-docs, staff, and researchers to create a dedicated space for focused writing and professional growth. Support was provided by the Catalyst Awards for Science Advancement (CASA2, NSF/GEO #2304691) SOEST Wāhine initiative.

Each session began with a “talk-story,” or informal catch-up, followed by a targeted discussion on a specific writing-related topic. Topics ranged from how to set SMART goals, to discussing issues like gendered writing in letters of recommendation for women. This was then followed by the core of the session, which was one to two hours of quiet, collaborative writing time. Participants were encouraged to set semester, weekly, and daily writing goals to help establish productive habits in an area of academia that often lacks structure. The goal was to approach writing like a scientist—gather data on writing habits and assess what works best for your personal writing productivity. Coffee, tea, and snacks were provided as incentives to encourage attendance and to celebrate participants’ commitment to building community.

“Starting grad school during the COVID-19 pandemic really impacted my ability to connect with others,” said Ackerman. “My goal is to create a space for women and non-gender-conforming individuals that will continue beyond my time here at UH. Community is crucial, especially for underrepresented groups in STEM.”

Ackerman, who served on the executive council for Graduate Women in Science Hawai‘i for three years, has been a vocal advocate for addressing inequities in STEM and academia. Initially aiming to gather a few participants, the group attracted 20 members, including graduate students, post-docs, and staff—most of whom were women. Participants worked on a wide range of writing tasks, from Master’s theses and PhD papers to NSF grants and job application materials. Many members expressed their gratitude for the support and camaraderie provided by the group, noting that they would not have achieved as much of their writing goals without it.

“I’ve had folks reach out about continuing the group in future semesters,” Ackerman said. “I feel strongly about creating spaces like this, and while I plan to apply for another round of CASA funding, I believe I will continue the group regardless of the funding outcome.”

The co-writing group’s success has inspired plans for a Spring 2025 session. Those interested in participating can join the email list here.