Diversifying the ecological village

SEEDS was launched to diversify ESA’s membership, and set out to engage minority undergraduate students through campus-based programs with faculty. Some students discovered and came to value the joys of ecology, and gained confidence in doing ecology. Few persisted in ecology, while many pursued careers other than ‘typical’ academic ones.  SEEDS responded by building a national network of students and ESA mentors, providing field, research and leadership opportunities directly to students. SEEDS’ success has been both cause and effect of the diversification of the topical and methodological scope of ecology, at least as manifest in activities at the annual meetings.