Tue, Aug 16, 2022: 3:50 PM-4:10 PM
520F
Background/Question/MethodsA sense of community is a feeling that we have as it relates to belonging as well as a feeling of being valued and heard. Only a small percentage (2.5%) of PhDs granted in Ecology and Evolution are to Black scholars. This has resulted in the number of Black ecologists entering the field growing at an excruciatingly slow pace. In a discipline with this level of underrepresentation, recruitment and retention of Black trainees at all levels (undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral), is both critical and extremely difficult. This is often due to conscious and unconscious racism and bias operating within institutions and individuals. Therefore, a sense of community is necessary in the success of Black ecologists through all training stages and advancement levels. However, many of us still only operate as “outsiders within” and this severe lack of Black ecologists hinders progress towards a more diverse discipline.
Results/ConclusionsThere are several general challenges that compromise belonging that permeate all stages of training and can therefore hinder success: isolation, mentorship and professional climate. We will unpack some of these issues as well as provide some strategies to combat them.We must develop novel strategies to create community and overcome feelings of isolation which impacts the sense of belonging and the ability to envision long-term success in the field. This isolation can ultimately reduce retention and eventually creates a severe bottleneck into senior scientist positions. The results is often that student and early career Black ecologists, in general, sometimes find themselves without access to mentors with shared identities or with the cultural understanding, training, and awareness to respond to their unique experiences and needs. Persistent marginalization of Black ecologist trainees and professionals presents unique challenges that are compounded by a professional culture rooted in white supremacy that makes retention exceptionally difficult. The goal of our work is not to engender empathy, but rather action.
Results/ConclusionsThere are several general challenges that compromise belonging that permeate all stages of training and can therefore hinder success: isolation, mentorship and professional climate. We will unpack some of these issues as well as provide some strategies to combat them.We must develop novel strategies to create community and overcome feelings of isolation which impacts the sense of belonging and the ability to envision long-term success in the field. This isolation can ultimately reduce retention and eventually creates a severe bottleneck into senior scientist positions. The results is often that student and early career Black ecologists, in general, sometimes find themselves without access to mentors with shared identities or with the cultural understanding, training, and awareness to respond to their unique experiences and needs. Persistent marginalization of Black ecologist trainees and professionals presents unique challenges that are compounded by a professional culture rooted in white supremacy that makes retention exceptionally difficult. The goal of our work is not to engender empathy, but rather action.