ESA Annual Meeting Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
Due Date: December 14, 2026
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. They are offered to those who will conduct workshops, trainings, or deliver talks at sessions that have been accepted by the ESA Meetings Program Committee and are subject to availability of funds.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Eligibility Requirements for Nominators:
Please note that nominations can ONLY be submitted by current ESA members who are:
- Lead Organizers of Symposia, Organized Oral Sessions, Inspire, Special Sessions, Workshops ~ OR ~
- Chairs of ESA Committees, Sections and Chapters
Eligibility Requirements for Nominees
You should only nominate scholars:
- Who are at the intersection of science, education, communication, policy and community
- Who will be a speaker at your session or workshop
- Who have never been a member of ESA at any time
- Who have never attended an ESA Annual Meeting
- Who might not otherwise attend on their own resources
- Who are not your student, advisee, or part of your lab or institution
Please review details and FAQs below.
Congratulations to Past Diversity and Inclusion Scholars
Awardees for the ESA Annual Meeting Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
Frequently Asked Questions are posted below.
Award
The Scholarship is intended to cover: 1) a complimentary ESA membership; 2) the ESA Annual Meeting one day or full conference in-person registration fee. Participants who are located where the ESA Annual Meeting is held are especially welcome to be nominated. International nominees should have other sources of funding to enable them to travel to the meeting in person.
Purpose of Scholarship
The scholarship is intended to recognize significant contributions by individuals new to ESA who work in the field to generate a broader appreciation of ecology as a science and who can enrich the exchange of ideas and perspectives at the ESA annual meeting. In this spirit, nominees for the award may come from any sector related to science, communication and education: academia, non-government organizations, industries, or other independent entities.
Eligibility criteria
You should only nominate scholars:
Who are at the intersection of science, education, communication, policy and community
- Who will be a speaker at your session or workshop
- Who have never been members of ESA at any time
- Who have never attended an ESA Annual Meeting,
- Who might not otherwise attend on their own resources
- Who are not your student, advisee, or part of your lab or institution
Participation at ESA Meeting
In addition to the proposed talk, session or other activity accepted by ESA, scholarship recipients are expected to participate in at least one other activity during the ESA meeting. This may be a section or chapter meeting or a special session or workshop where nominees will interact with other attendees and share their perspectives.
The scholarship will be awarded to advance ESA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as expressed in our Diversity Statement.
Who Can Submit Nominations
Nominations can ONLY be submitted by current ESA members who are:
- Lead Organizers of Symposia, Organized Orals, Inspire, Special Sessions, Workshops, Short Courses (all sessions MUST have been accepted prior to submission)
~ OR ~
- Chairs of ESA Committees, Sections and Chapters
Nominators are expected to attend the ESA meeting and committed to enhancing the participation of the nominee during the meeting.
Nomination Details
Please check eligibility criteria before submitting
The nomination form includes an eligibility check and will require the following information:
- Name, Position, Affiliation of Nominator
- Name of Nominator’s Section, Chapter or Committee if applicable
- Name, Position, Affiliation of Nominee
- A brief description of the Nominee’s work
- The title and description of the proposed talk, session or other activity by the nominee and its significance to ESA, how it is aligned with the purpose, eligibility, and/or criteria of the Award
- How would the nominee participate in the Annual Meeting beyond the proposed talk, session or other activity? Please propose at least one additional activity that the nominee might be involved in. This may be confirmed later when the program is available.
- How the nominee might benefit from attending the ESA annual meeting
- Any planned or potential follow up by the nominator after the meeting; and
- The nominator’s role in facilitating any of the above and the role of others if applicable.
Submissions
To be considered, please submit nominations via this online form by December 14, 2026. Nominations received after this date will be considered on a rolling basis as funds are available. Scholarships are expected to be announced in February 2027, contingent on the proposed session being accepted and that nominees have access to adequate resources for travel.
Scholarship Award Chair
Kelly Ramirez
Chair, Diversity Committee
Difficulties with Submission?
Please contact:
Will it be possible to propose new sessions in this process?
No, nominations must reference sessions that have already been proposed. Sessions that are not proposed through the meeting website will not be considered.
2. Who are eligible? Can nominees be co-authors?
Nominees MUST be new to ESA and have never been an ESA member before. Yes, they may be co-authors but they must still meet all the stipulated eligibility requirements. Nominees must be at the interface of science, education, communication, policy and community and meet other criteria specified above.
3. Are self-nominations allowed?
No. All speakers must be nominated by current ESA members who are:
- Lead Organizers of Symposia, Organized Orals, Inspire, Field Trips, Special Sessions, Workshops ~ OR ~
- Active members of ESA Committees, Sections and Chapters
4. Will the Award cover travel expenses?
No. The award will only cover conference registration and ESA membership. We recommend that nominators secure other sources of funding early if nominees require travel support, as offer of the award is contingent on your nominee’s ability to travel if the session, talk or activity is accepted.
5. What types of additional activities could nominees participate in?
Since the purpose of the award is to encourage ESA members to gain insight into the interface of science, education, communication, policy and community, we would like nominees to participate in other activities such as business meetings of sections or chapters as well as other workshops or special sessions. This may be determined at a later stage after the meeting program is available. If appropriate, your nominee may also be invited to speak at an ESA diversity and inclusion event. Please contact education@esa.org if you would like to discuss additional opportunities.
| Early September 2026 | Calls Open: Invited Paper Session Proposals Symposia, Organized Oral Sessions, Inspire Sessions |
| October 15, 2026 | Submission Deadline: Invited Paper Session Proposals Symposia, Organized Oral Sessions, Inspire Sessions |
| Late October 2026 | Calls Open: Non-Paper Session Proposals Workshops, Short Courses, Special Sessions, Field Trips, Career Central |
| December 3, 2026 | Submission Deadline: Non- Paper Session Proposals Workshops, Short Courses, Special Sessions, Field Trips, Career Central |
| Early January 2027 | Call Opens: Contributed Abstracts |
| Late January 2027 | Call Opens: Social Event Requests |
| February 18, 2027 | Submission Deadline: Contributed Abstracts |
| March 11, 2027 | Submission Deadline: Invited Paper Session Abstracts Symposia, Organized Oral Sessions, Inspire Sessions |
| Mid March 2027 | Call Opens: Latebreaking Poster Abstracts |
| April 15, 2027 | Submission Deadline: Social Event Requests |
| April 22, 2027 | Submission Deadline: Latebreaking Poster Abstracts |