ESA honored at White House ceremony(ethnic minority students to include an e...)

Date:11/19/2007

ethnic minority students to include an ever-expanding pool of ESA members involved in mentoring students and learning much from them. Over 200 ESA members have volunteered to serve either as a mentor at the Annual Meeting, as a mentor for a Fellowship student, or to assist with a field trip. Another facet to the program is ESAs web series, Focus on Ecologists: What do Ecologists Do" that profiles a diversity of people trained in ecological science and offers their advice to students. (http://www.esa.org/education/ecologists_profile/EcologistsProfileDirectory/)

We recognized the need to increase the diversity of our membership early on, says ESA Executive Director Katherine McCarter. The Society took a number of steps towards this goal in which the SEEDS program has figured prominently.

McCarter notes that the ultimate measure of success has been in the great strides ESA has made in membership numbers of underrepresented populations.

In 1992, underrepresented minorities represented 5.7 percent of the Societys membership. In 2006, that number had grown to 11 percent. The number of American Indian/Alaska Native members more than doubled and that of African American members nearly tripled.

Its imperative that we draw from the talent of the broad spectrum of the U.S. population who will bring the range of creativity, skills, and approaches needed to address ecological challenges, says ESA President Christensen.

The Society has made a long-term commitment to continue the mentoring opportunities for students and members alike, particularly those organized and supported at the Societys annual meetings. It plans to dedicate the presidential award to supporting travel for underrepresented students to continue to attend the annual scientific conference and to participate in the mentoring activities sponsored at these yearly events.'/>"/>

Contact: Nadine Lymn nadine@esa.org 202-833-8773 Ecological Society of America Source:Eurekalert

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