GSPA Awardee Raymond Erskine shares his perspective on science policy and what it was like to participate in this year’s events.

Dear ESA Members, We, as Governing Board Members of ESA, in light of current events in our nation, with impacts that affect all of us locally and globally, write to you today to offer encouragement and to assure that there is a path forward.

Q: Do you have any tips for getting your foot in the door in the environmental consulting world after graduating from undergrad?

Q: Are there certain job boards other than the ECOLOG or Conservation Job Board you would recommend?

Call your Congressperson in the House of Representatives or send a short email asking them to request robust funding for federal science agencies.

President Trump’s FY26 budget request cuts research accounts across federal agencies that would devastate America’s scientific enterprise.

Earlier this month, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service proposed a new rule that could limit the scope of Endangered Species Act protections. The agencies are accepting public comments on the proposed rule change until May 19, 2025. Background: Currently, the Endangered Species Act prohibits certain actions that “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,…

Contributed by ESA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Chair Lea Johnson On April 5, nearly 300 ecologists—faculty, students, and practitioners—gathered at Longwood Gardens for what we’re told may have been the largest meeting of ESA’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter in its decades-long history. As chair of the regional chapter for the year, I was also chair of the meeting – so the enthusiastic participation this…

Dear ESA Community, Recent U.S. administration executive orders (EOs) affecting research funding, data sets, the federal STEM workforce, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in federal agencies and scientific research funding programs have introduced uncertainty and concern for the ecological community. While the full implications remain unclear, we are steadfast in our commitment to advocating for our mission, programs. ESA’s Commitment…

At COP16, Alexa Theodoropoulos balanced schoolwork with engaging in key biodiversity discussions. She witnessed the urgency of action and the crucial role of youth in shaping global commitments. While progress was made, she emphasizes that accountability is essential and that students have a responsibility to ensure these goals lead to real change.

Cristian Román shares unique insights from attending COP16 in Cali, Colombia, exploring the interplay of science, policy, and equity. Highlights include challenges with proprietary biodiversity tools, ethical concerns surrounding AI in policy compliance, and academia’s role in negotiations, raising critical questions about accessibility, collaboration, and power dynamics.

At COP16 in Cali, October 2024, Alejandra Osejo-Varona, PhD Candidate in Anthropology at Rice University, shares insights on how scientists and decision-makers collaborated to address invasive alien species (IAS). The conference presented scientific tools and assessments, such as the IPBES report and IUCN toolkit, to guide the implementation of Target 6 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.