Dear members of the Paleoclimate community,

Given the current situation regarding Covid-19, we consider a USSP in Urbino mid-to late July to be an unrealistic target, despite the expectation that the situation will improve over the summer. We have played with the idea to delay it to late August but also this appeared difficult to organize. In addition, we have considered designing a fully digital or hybrid edition, but we feel that this cannot in any way replace the USSP experience we envisage for both students and instructors in Urbino. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to not organize a 2021 USSP edition. We very much hope and plan to be of service again in 2022.

All the best,
Adina, Appy, Clara, Simone

We have recently instituted an independent advisory board for USSP.
The board is made up of five diverse members, all with some experience with diversity, equity and inclusion. Members were selected so as to include at least one of each of the following (1) a person who has previously participated in USSP as an instructor, (2) a member of the paleoclimate community who may know about USSP but has not participated, (3) a person distant from the community but still in the geosciences field, and (4) a student who recently attended USSP. Term appointment is at least 3 years.

Members (Feb. 2021)

• Allix Baxter, Utrecht University, Netherlands
• Mark Clementz, University of Wyoming, USA
• Claudia Jesus Rydin, European Research Council, Belgium
• Mark Leckie, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA
• Christina Ravelo, University of California Santa Cruz, USA

It is the highest priority of the Co-Directors and Advisory Board to ensure the safety of all participants in USSP. The role of the Advisory Board is as follows:

• Advising co-directors on cases of misconduct and possible updates to the Code Of Conduct (COC) to ensure a safe environment for all participants.
• Advising co-directors on effective reporting mechanisms as well as on sanctions for those who break the COC.
• Advising co-directors on recruiting a diverse, equitable and inclusive pool of instructors and students to USSP.
• Advising co-directors on how to best develop and maintain a climate of inclusion and equity at USSP, including networking and social events.
• Advising on the integration of DEI and career/community instruction and practices within the school structure.
• Advising co-directors on actions needed to address annual anonymous feedback from students and any other forms of feedback received.
• Providing input on pedagogical science directions, if needed.