SS 29 - Think Globally and Act Locally: How Ecologists Can Make a Difference in the Communities They Live and Work In

Session Description: The meeting theme seeks to help create an ESA for all Ecologists by providing programming and sessions that better engage private/public-sector ecologists by highlighting projects that are implementing ecological science, collaborating across sectors, educating future scientists and decision makers, and disseminating ecological research to those who need it most. Indeed, the purpose of this Session is to explore how ESA can assist both private and public sector members to make a difference within their communities. The Session does this by having a 1) diverse panel of ecologists share their story of making a difference locally and 2) discussion on how ESA can help prepare members as translators of science to have a practical local impact on environmental issues, whether this impact is through public policy, outreach, or education. We know that environmental issues often impact communities of color or those that are economically disadvantaged. The panel will offer member stories from a diverse group of ecologists representing both the public and private sector, an array of career stages, ethnicity, race and personal identification. Through these experiences and from an array of communities, we will be able to identify adaptive strategies for a wide spectrum of socioeconomic and cultural contexts and thus assist ecologists with their community interactions that address socio-environmental issues.

Currently, we have several panelists who have committed to providing their stories. They include: 1. Sarah Jovan, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station; 2. Olyssa Starry, faculty, Portland St U.; and 3. Elijah Hall, UC Riverside, student. Additionally, we are working with the Environmental Justice, Human Ecology, and Policy Sections for additional panelists. Each panelist will be given 5-10 minutes (depending on the number of panelists). There will be a facilitated discussion after the panel session with the objective to review lessons learned by the panelists and to provide a list of actions by individual Sections, or ESA in general, to assist members in making a difference locally. Preliminary ideas include having a “Collection” of member stories presented in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment; developing an online “how to manual” for members; having a webinar series to provide guidance on how best to tell your story and to highlight additional member stories; and finally to host a Session/Field Trip at all future annual meetings to highlight member impacts at the local level.