Happy Holiday's SEEDS Family!
It has been a wonderful year for the SEEDS program and for the Ecological Society of America that celebrated its 100th year! This is the time of year that we look back and think about all the things that we are thankful for and all the wonderful things that we have accomplished. SEEDS is more than just a program, it's a family, formed by a passion for ecology that transforms into long lasting friendships and connections.
This year we are thankful to have added over 120 new students to our family. These students come from all over the country, from different cultures, races, income and religious backgrounds, but they all share the passion to succeed in science and see a brighter future ahead. We know that these students will become successful leaders the future of our science and our society.
We would like to thank all our partners and hosts that made 2015 such a memorable year. Huge thanks to Cindy Wilber, at Stanford University for helping us organize the Bay Area Regional Trip; to our past President, Dr. David Inouye for hosting the Leadership Meeting; to the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program for sponsoring their students to join our family at the ESA Centennial Meeting; to Mark Schilze at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest in Oregon for hosting the National Field Trip; to the Archbold Biological Station for hosting the Florida Regional Field Trip.- you all helped our students participate in once in lifetime experiences. A big thanks to all of our Fellowship Partners in 2015; Harvard Forest, Llano River Field Station and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. A huge thanks as well to all of our ESA Members that served as SEEDS Mentors at the ESA Annual Meeting - your time and effort has a big impact on these students lives.
We are also thankful for our funders who have invested in SEEDS - the National Science Foundation. the USDA Forest Service, and our ESA Members and supporters. Your financial contributions have helped SEEDS continue to be at the forefront of diversity and inclusion into the sciences.
From both us, Teresa Mourad (Director of Education and Diversity Programs) and Fred Abbott (Diversity Program Coordinator), we wish you a very Merry 2016!