Developing the ecological scientist mindset among underrepresented students in ecology fields

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Ecology and environmental sciences have alarmingly low representation of underrepresented minorities (URM).
• URM participation in science is influenced by social factors like belonging, science identity, implicit biases, and stereotypes.
• Field experiences, often seen as a "rite of passage" in environmental science, uniquely impact URM student engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how students discover ecology.
• To identify factors affecting URM recruitment and retention in environmental science.
• To propose comprehensive strategies for diversifying the environmental workforce.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of factors influencing URM participation in science.
• Analysis of social and experiential influences on URM students in ecology.
• Synthesis of effective recruitment and retention strategies for URMs in environmental fields.

Main Results:

• Ecology is often discovered late in academic careers, hindering early URM engagement.
• Social factors and the nature of field experiences significantly impact URM students' involvement in ecology.
• Despite interventions, dramatic underrepresentation of URMs in environmental science persists.

Conclusions:

• Diversifying the environmental workforce requires addressing social factors and improving inclusivity.
• Comprehensive strategies are essential for recruiting and retaining URM students in ecology and environmental science.
• Further research into effective, scalable interventions is crucial for broadening participation.