About the SEEDS 20th Anniversary Page

The 20th Anniversary page serves to showcase SEEDS and to celebrate 20 years’ worth of achievements. We want to tell stories from our participants who have been involved in the wide range of activities we offer.

What we are

SEEDS is a program that offers hand-on experiences and mentorship that helps students, particularly those in underrepresented fields, to focus and drive them to success. Students in underrepresented fields require mentorship in identifying career paths, as well as role models, to overcome obstacles to success in ecology. To accomplish this. we provide access to networking and resources to provide life changing opportunities. These include Field Trips, Leadership Meetings, and Mentoring Programs.

Our Pillars of Support

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Diversity

“Only when the full breadth of the American family is engaged in deciding what are important ecological problems and are able to bring their full, rich brilliance to bear on solving these problems, will ecology be up to the task that faces it. That the leadership of the ESA recognized this fact, when it made diversifying the field a key goal in advancing the science of ecology, is one of SEEDS greatest accomplishments in its first half decade.” ~Alan R. Berkowitz, Institute for Ecosystem Studies, former ESA Vice President for Education & Founder of SEEDS

Diversity

Education

“To design a curriculum in ecology we were forced to remove the mind-set of apathy brought on by years of minority disenfranchisement from the environmental movement and replace it with the ecological awareness that would make our students see the necessity of taking ecology in the first place.” ~Dr. Mike John, Bethune Cookman College, SEEDS faculty

Education

Equal Opportunity

“SEEDS has been instrumental in bringing to light the many different realms of ecology there are available to me. I have always found science interesting, yet I could never really grasp it. Growing up on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, my views seemed to clash with those of modern science, resulting in my doubt and lack of interest in science. My involvement and support from SEEDS, the meeting of different mentors, and the meeting of students from different ethnic backgrounds with similar interests as me, has and is allowing me to realize there is a place for me in science. Through my experiences with SEEDS, not only have I seen many different disciplines of ecology, but also, I have been able to find one that is true and close to me - rangeland ecology and management. My upcoming SEEDS Fellowship research will greatly and directly benefit both me and my educational/career goals. I am certain that had it not been for SEEDS and my Tribal College, I never would have thought of this line of work, pursued ecology, or have been sustained and supported like I have. I am excited for what the future hold for me in ecology, educationally and career wise. SEEDS has opened my eyes and mind to a whole new world of possibilities, possibilities I may never have imagined had I not found SEEDS, or maybe SEEDS not found me.” ~Christopher S. McLaughlin, Sitting Bull College, SEEDS fellow

Equal Opportunity

Networking

“Participating in SEEDS has offered me the opportunity to create relationships with talented individuals over the years. The field trip introduced me to my research partner, Christine George, who looks me in they eye and says ‘thank you, Sophi’ every time I see her. Just that little appreciation lets me know, I made a difference. I shared my vision for the project, we built a dream together although we are from two different worlds, and both fueled our dream with hope. Opportunities like those offered by SEEDS do not happen everyday. SEEDS made our uranium project on the Navajo reservation happen; only being a parent brings me greater joy and pride. The SEEDS program allowed me the freedom to ask questions, seek the in-depth answers I wanted, and created a comfortable, fertile environment that allowed me to grow. SEEDS changes students, it calms the terror, builds confidence with support and hope, and allows the freedom to accept the wonder created by the vision or dream of an ecologically safe world.” ~Sophi Beym, Bishop Paiute Tribe Environmental Specialist, SEEDS alumnus

Networking

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  Diversity

  “Only when the full breadth of the American family is engaged in deciding what are important ecological problems and are able to bring their full, rich brilliance to bear on solving these problems, will ecology be up to the task that faces it. That the leadership of the ESA recognized this fact, when it made diversifying the field a key goal in advancing the science of ecology, is one of SEEDS greatest accomplishments in its first half decade.” ~Alan R. Berkowitz, Institute for Ecosystem Studies, former ESA Vice President for Education & Founder of SEEDS
• <

  >
  

  Education

  “To design a curriculum in ecology we were forced to remove the mind-set of apathy brought on by years of minority disenfranchisement from the environmental movement and replace it with the ecological awareness that would make our students see the necessity of taking ecology in the first place.” ~Dr. Mike John, Bethune Cookman College, SEEDS faculty
• <

  >
  

  Equal Opportunity

  “SEEDS has been instrumental in bringing to light the many different realms of ecology there are available to me. I have always found science interesting, yet I could never really grasp it. Growing up on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota, my views seemed to clash with those of modern science, resulting in my doubt and lack of interest in science. My involvement and support from SEEDS, the meeting of different mentors, and the meeting of students from different ethnic backgrounds with similar interests as me, has and is allowing me to realize there is a place for me in science. Through my experiences with SEEDS, not only have I seen many different disciplines of ecology, but also, I have been able to find one that is true and close to me - rangeland ecology and management. My upcoming SEEDS Fellowship research will greatly and directly benefit both me and my educational/career goals. I am certain that had it not been for SEEDS and my Tribal College, I never would have thought of this line of work, pursued ecology, or have been sustained and supported like I have. I am excited for what the future hold for me in ecology, educationally and career wise. SEEDS has opened my eyes and mind to a whole new world of possibilities, possibilities I may never have imagined had I not found SEEDS, or maybe SEEDS not found me.” ~Christopher S. McLaughlin, Sitting Bull College, SEEDS fellow
• <

  >
  

  Networking

  “Participating in SEEDS has offered me the opportunity to create relationships with talented individuals over the years. The field trip introduced me to my research partner, Christine George, who looks me in they eye and says ‘thank you, Sophi’ every time I see her. Just that little appreciation lets me know, I made a difference. I shared my vision for the project, we built a dream together although we are from two different worlds, and both fueled our dream with hope. Opportunities like those offered by SEEDS do not happen everyday. SEEDS made our uranium project on the Navajo reservation happen; only being a parent brings me greater joy and pride. The SEEDS program allowed me the freedom to ask questions, seek the in-depth answers I wanted, and created a comfortable, fertile environment that allowed me to grow. SEEDS changes students, it calms the terror, builds confidence with support and hope, and allows the freedom to accept the wonder created by the vision or dream of an ecologically safe world.” ~Sophi Beym, Bishop Paiute Tribe Environmental Specialist, SEEDS alumnus