2016 SEEDS Fall Newsletter
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Thank you and Happy Holidays!
During this Thanksgiving season, all of us in ESA and SEEDS are profoundly grateful for all the SEEDS participants, faculty advisers, alumni, leaders, mentors, funders, donors and friends who have supported all our activities. We are especially thankful this year as it is the 20th anniversary of SEEDS! We really could not be here today without the confidence, trust and support of so many people over the years to promote . As we have seen during the Presidential election campaign, the message of diversity and inclusion is more salient and urgent than ever.
For the past 20 years the mission of the SEEDS program has been simple: Diverse People for a Diverse Science. SEEDS is ESA's flagship education program and strongly demonstrates the Society's commitment to diversity. With recent political tensions, we need to come together more than ever to celebrate these values: that science is inclusive and that we welcome the participation of ALL regardless of age, culture, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental differences, politics, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status or subculture (see ESA's Diversity statement).
As we look to the future, let us stand together to share our knowledge and our passion for the understanding of life on earth and ensure a sustainable future for all!
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In this edition of the SEEDS Newsletter:
SEEDS Fellowship Applications are now OPEN!
101st ESA Annual Meeting
Field Trips to Montana and Florida
SEEDS Chapter Grants
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SEEDS Partnership for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Fellowship 2017-2018
The SEEDS program is proud to announce that we will be accepting applications for the SPUR Fellowship. The SPUR Fellowship is the highest honor in the SEEDS program, and fellows are encouraged to be the outstanding leaders in the future of ESA. The award supports undergraduate students in designing and conducting an ecology research project of interest. SEEDS has established partnerships with field stations and mentors to offer exciting summer opportunities that will be tailored to meet the students interest, career objectives and growth as a scientist. For most opportunities, no prior research experiences is necessary!
The SPUR Fellowship Award includes a fully funded and mentored summer research experience (housing, travel, stipend and research expenses covered), travel expenses to the 2017 and 2018 SEEDS Leadership Meeting, and travel expenses to the 2018 ESA Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. You also receive a $500 award after completing the fellowship!
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101st ESA Annual Meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
This year the SEEDS Program partnered with the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program (DDCSP) to host their cohort of students to attend the ESA Annual Meeting. Out of the 41 undergraduate student participants this year, 24 of them are sponsored by DDCSP. We are very proud to have a diverse group of students this year!
A huge thanks to all of the ESA members that served as SEEDS Student Mentors and our six SEEDS Alumni Graduate Award Recipients for taking the time to mentor our students.
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SEEDS National Field Trip to Flathead Lake Biological Station in Montana!
We hosted a National Field Trip to Flathead Lake Biological Station, managed by the University of Montana in Polson, Montana from September 29 - October 2, 2016. SEEDS sponsored 18 undergraduate and one SEEDS alumni to participate in this unique opportunity. With the help from Jim and Monica Elser, and the rest of the FLBS staff, students learned about the science fields of limnology and ecology. They participated in field research exercises collecting zooplankton samples at the lake and learned about the vertical migration of these organisms. They also had the opportunity to visit Glacier National Park where they learned about the glacier waters and the rapidly changing environment due to climate change.
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SEEDS Regional Field Trip in Florida!
From Nov 3-6, 2016, 17 students from five institutions participated in a regional field trip to the Whitney Lab for Marine BioScience in St. Augustine and the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vendra, FL. Students came from Bethune-Cookman University, Florida A&M University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University and University of Florida. Additionally, two SEEDS graduate student alumni and FAMU faculty adviser, Dr. Richard Gragg also accompanied the students. Students had an amazing experience learning about the oysters, the shore birds and the benthic diversity at Whitney Lab. We then went wading into the salt marshes to harvest Spartina which is being used to in restoration efforts to stem shoreline erosion. We are grateful to Andrea and Brandon Noel for pulling together the field trip program. Thanks also to Todd Osbourne, Jose Nunez, Brandon Noel and Trent Dye, for leading the field experiences at Whitney Lab and to Citizen scientist, Paige Priester who highlighted the serious problem of microplastics, and Joe Gilligan, Jimmu Tomazinis and Benjamin Rome for an unforgettable experience at the GTM reserve.
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SEEDS Chapter Grant Applications
Applications Applications are due November 21. The SEEDS Campus Ecology Chapter program will offer SEEDS Chapter Grants of up to $500 for projects taking place in 2017 with funding from donations by ESA Members. Limited grant funds are available to support Chapter activities and projects which further the mission of SEEDS - to diversify and advance the ecology profession through opportunities that stimulate and nurture the interest and leadership of underrepresented students in ecology.
For more information about our SEEDS Chapter Grants, please visit:
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