Why does understanding the history of ecology matter to our individual and collective futures?

Background/Question/Methods

Ecology is an historical science and has been understood as such since its origins. What has changed is our conception of the word “history” as it relates to ecology. A trend to enlarge that understanding to include humans as part of our research scope can be seen clearly in the activities of the Ecological Society of America since its inception in 1915; its general outline is well-known if not always considered. In broad brushstrokes, the discussions within ESA about its direction began at founding with arguments on how much focus should be on “preservation” vs. “study” of the “natural world.” An underlying assumption of “equilibrium” eventually turned to a recognition that the subjects of ecological research never have been in equilibrium and never will be. Concomitant has been the increasing recognition that humans are part of nature and that the myth of untouched wilderness, especially the archetypical “untouched” tropical lowlands, is, in fact, a myth. How do these changing understandings affect how we as ecologists, collectively and individually, plot our courses for the future? To address this question, we use the “texts” of speakers in this Organized Session within the framework of contemporary ecologists’ opinions.

Results/Conclusions

A recent survey of a significant fraction of ESA’s membership explored personal and professional traits considered by respondents to be characteristic of good ecologists. Age of respondent is emerging as one important variable, but whether this is a function of chronological age or of contextual factors such as history cannot be determined from such a snapshot. We invite the audience to reflect on contemporary ecologists’ responses as they listen to presentations about the lives, influences, and direct contributions of ecologists who had major impacts on our discipline. We move from examining individual ecologists to collaborations to case studies of successful research. Proto-ecologists become foundational ecologists. “Pure” ecologists are revealed as deeply committed environmentalists. Scientists and sub-disciplines once considered to be on the margins of ecology move towards the center, and a Society once divided by debates over preservation vs. study of natural areas now emphasizes “Earth Stewardship.” We are not who we thought we were. Perhaps we should re-think who we should be. Audience members are invited to continue this conversation in the Exhibit Hall with the speakers and others at OPS Ecologists Doing History: Notes from the Field immediately following this session.