Equity and Excellence in Ecology Endowment
Empower the Best Ecologists
Your contribution to the Equity and Excellence in Ecology endowment lowers critical barriers and facilitates the full participation of scientists historically underrepresented in ecology.
Proceeds from the Equity and Excellence in Ecology endowment will advance ESA’s diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) initiatives. Its initial goal is to raise $400,000 to fully fund the ESA Excellence in Ecology (EEE) Scholarships in perpetuity. Additional funds will support other initiatives as prioritized by the ESA Diversity Committee.
Build Equity and Excellence in Ecology
Issues of language, resources, or the perceptions of others can create barriers to getting established in ecology, and we all suffer if we lose new contributors. The Equity and Excellence in Ecology Endowment will help highly qualified ecologists to get more established in research, attend meetings, join networks, write papers, and advance in their careers. I urge ESA members to support this exciting new program.
Richard Norby, Founding Donor
About the Endowment
In 2021, ESA seeded several initiatives in response to recommendations from its DEIJ task force. These included the ESA Excellence in Ecology (EEE) Scholarships, publications waivers and a diversity development program for ESA leaders. The first stage of the endowment is to raise $400,000, which will sustain the EEE Scholarships and other initiatives prioritized by the Diversity Committee.
The endowment will support ESA’s commitment to making the ecological sciences more inclusive with steps that remove barriers to the full participation, retention and promotion of scholars who have traditionally been excluded or underrepresented in our community.
About the EEE Scholarship
The ESA Excellence in Ecology scholarship is intended for early–mid career ESA members who have traditionally been excluded or underrepresented in our community. Ecologists who have achieved a PhD within the last 20 years from all areas of basic and applied research are eligible.
The EEE Scholarship comes with an award of $5,000 and support for research, travel to ESA annual meeting, family care, open-acesss publication.
It was implemented in 2021 by the ESA Governing Board in response to recommendations from ESA’s DEIJ Task Force.
ESA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Initiatives
Black Voices Collection
This collection of articles employs a myriad of approaches with historical and contemporary lenses, highlighting Black scholars across early stages within collaborative teams to illuminate novel avenues of enquiry.
Annual Meeting
Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships
The ESA Annual Meeting Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship was created to support speakers who bring diverse perspectives to the ESA annual meeting at the interface of science, education, communication, policy and community.
Governance, Partnerships and Access
DEIJ Task Force transitions to Rededicated Diversity Committee
Leadership Development at Minority-serving Events: Meeting Students Where They Are
Open-Access Publication Waivers supported five scientists in 2022
ESA reinforces commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ)
Goals
- Building Awareness of our Diverse ESA Members and DEIJ Issues in Ecology
- Building Support for Career Development of Diverse ESA Members
- Building a Network of Diverse ESA Members and DEIJ-focused Partners
Be a Founding Donor
By September 2025, ESA aims to raise $200,000 for the Equity and Excellence in Ecology endowment. Each donor who helps us reach this immediate goal will be recognized as a Founding Donor. Your generous donation will allow ESA to pave the way for equitable and just access to resources for scientists who have historically been underrepresented and ensure that their perspectives are visible in the ecological community.