1
|
Tibbetts Y, Himmelberger ZM, Barron KE, Speicher MR, Hulleman CS. Learning Mindsets and Well-Being and Ill-Being Among Osteopathic Medical Students. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2418090. [PMID: 38874920 PMCID: PMC11179131 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.18090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Given the high rates of burnout and associated negative mental health outcomes (eg, depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse) among medical students and physicians, it is imperative to identify strategies for supporting the future health workforce, particularly when considering trends indicating a future shortage of physicians. Understanding the associations of medical school students' learning mindsets (eg, growth mindset, purpose and relevance, and sense of belonging) with indicators of well-being (eg, flourishing) and ill-being (eg, burnout) could provide a foundation for future research to consider when attempting to combat the negative mental health trends among medical students and physicians. Objectives To understand the associations of medical school students' learning mindsets (ie, their beliefs about themselves as learners and their learning environment) with critical student health outcomes (ie, well-being and ill-being). Design, Setting, and Participants This survey study used a nationally representative sample of first-year osteopathic medical school students across the US who responded to a survey of learning mindsets as well as measures of well-being and ill-being in fall 2022. Data were analyzed from January to April 2024. Main Outcomes and Measures Learning mindsets were categorized as growth mindset, purpose and relevance, and sense of belonging. Well-being was categorized as flourishing and resilience, and ill-being was categorized as burnout and psychological symptoms. Outcomes were regressed on learning mindset and demographics variables, and interactions of demographic variables and learning mindsets were assessed. Results A total of 7839 students were surveyed, and 6622 students (mean [SD] age, 25.05 [3.20]; 3678 [55.5%] women) responded and were included in analyses. The 3 learning mindsets were significantly associated with flourishing (growth mindset: b = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.45; P < .001; purpose and relevance: b = 2.02; 95% CI, 1.83 to 2.20; P < .001; belonging uncertainty: b = -0.98; 95% CI, -1.08 to -0.89; P < .001) and resilience (growth mindset: b = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.40; P < .001; purpose and relevance: b = 1.62; 95% CI, 1.43 to 1.82; P < .001; belonging uncertainty: b = -1.50; 95% CI, -1.60 to -1.40; P < .001) well-being outcomes and burnout (growth mindset: b = -0.09; 95% CI, -0.11 to -0.07; P < .001; purpose and relevance: b = -0.29; 95% CI, -0.32 to -0.25; P < .001; belonging uncertainty: b = 0.28; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.30; P < .001) and psychological symptoms (growth mindset: b = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.30 to -0.14; P < .001; purpose and relevance: b = -0.51; 95% CI, -0.64 to -0.38; P < .001; belonging uncertainty: b = 1.33; 95% CI, 1.27 to 1.40; P < .001) ill-being outcomes, even when controlling for important demographic characteristics (eg, race and ethnicity, gender identity, age). Furthermore, several significant interactions indicated that these learning mindsets may be particularly salient for students from historically marginalized communities: there was a significant interaction between growth mindset and race and ethnicity (b = 0.58; 95% CI, 0.08 to 1.09, P = .02), such that growth mindset was more strongly associated with flourishing among American Indian or Alaska Native, Black, Latine, or Native Hawaiian students. Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that identifying strategies for supporting students' learning mindsets may be an effective way to support medical student well-being and reduce ill-being, particularly among students from historically marginalized backgrounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoi Tibbetts
- Motivate Lab, Harrisonburg, Virginia
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| | | | - Kenneth E. Barron
- Motivate Lab, Harrisonburg, Virginia
- James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia
| | - Mark R. Speicher
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Chris S. Hulleman
- Motivate Lab, Harrisonburg, Virginia
- University of Virginia, Charlottesville
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Quiñónez ZA, Benitez-Melo A, Diaz LM, Lennig M, Char D, Smith C. Geospatial Analysis of the Proportion of Persons Defined as Underrepresented in Medicine for Each Medical School and Their Surrounding Core-Based Statistical Area. Health Equity 2024; 8:132-137. [PMID: 38435025 PMCID: PMC10908325 DOI: 10.1089/heq.2023.0221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The current approach to increasing diversity in medical education fails to consider local community demographics when determining medical school matriculation. Purpose We propose that medical schools better reflect their surrounding community, both because racially/ethnically concordant physicians have been shown to provide better care and to repair the historical and current racist impacts of these institutions that have criminalized, displaced, and excluded local Black and Brown communities. Methods and Results In this study, we used geospatial analysis to determine that medical school enrollments generally fail to reflect their surrounding community, represented as their core-based statistical area, within which the individual medical schools reside.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zoel A. Quiñónez
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Graduate Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Angel Benitez-Melo
- Department of Biology, University of San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Laura M. Diaz
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Michael Lennig
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Danton Char
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Charlotte Smith
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Dillon EM, Dunne EM, Womack TM, Kouvari M, Larina E, Claytor JR, Ivkić A, Juhn M, Carmona PSM, Robson SV, Saha A, Villafaña JA, Zill ME. Challenges and directions in analytical paleobiology. PALEOBIOLOGY 2023; 49:377-393. [PMID: 37809321 PMCID: PMC7615171 DOI: 10.1017/pab.2023.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, access to new data and analytical tools has expanded the study of analytical paleobiology, contributing to innovative analyses of biodiversity dynamics over Earth's history. Despite-or even spurred by-this growing availability of resources, analytical paleobiology faces deep-rooted obstacles that stem from the need for more equitable access to data and best practices to guide analyses of the fossil record. Recent progress has been accelerated by a collective push toward more collaborative, interdisciplinary, and open science, especially by early-career researchers. Here, we survey four challenges facing analytical paleobiology from an early-career perspective: (1) accounting for biases when interpreting the fossil record; (2) integrating fossil and modern biodiversity data; (3) building data science skills; and (4) increasing data accessibility and equity. We discuss recent efforts to address each challenge, highlight persisting barriers, and identify tools that have advanced analytical work. Given the inherent linkages between these challenges, we encourage discourse across disciplines to find common solutions. We also affirm the need for systemic changes that reevaluate how we conduct and share paleobiological research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin M. Dillon
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, U.S.A.; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Republic of Panama
| | - Emma M. Dunne
- GeoZentrum Nordbayern, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany; School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Tom M. Womack
- School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Miranta Kouvari
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; Life Sciences Department, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Ekaterina Larina
- Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, U.S.A
| | - Jordan Ray Claytor
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, U.S.A; Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, Washington 98195, U.S.A
| | - Angelina Ivkić
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2,1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mark Juhn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, U.S.A
| | - Pablo S. Milla Carmona
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina; Instituto de Estudios Andinos “Don Pablo Groeber” (IDEAN, UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina
| | - Selina Viktor Robson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Anwesha Saha
- Institute of Palaeobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Twarda 51/55, 00-818 Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Paleogenetics and Conservation Genetics, Centre of New Technologies (CeNT), University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jaime A. Villafaña
- Department of Palaeontology, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Centro de Investigación en Recursos Naturales y Sustentabilidad, Universidad Bernardo O ‘Higgins, Santiago 8370993, Chile
| | - Michelle E. Zill
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hà BA, Foxx K, Mensah ST, Barber PH, Kennison RL. Interdisciplinary approaches to advancing anti-racist pedagogies in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology. Trends Ecol Evol 2023:S0169-5347(23)00126-X. [PMID: 37268526 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Racism permeates ecology, evolution, and conservation biology (EECB). Meaningfully advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging requires an interdisciplinary anti-racist pedagogical approach to educate our community in how racism shaped our field. Here, we apply this framework, highlight disparities and interdisciplinary practices across institutions globally, and emphasize that self-reflection is paramount before implementing anti-racist interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin A Hà
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Kiana Foxx
- Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 457 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Samantha T Mensah
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Paul H Barber
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Rachel L Kennison
- Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, 612 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yousefi Nooraie R, Dadgostar P, Roman G, Cullen JP, Bennett NM. Mapping the distribution of health equity research and practice across a university: a network analysis. J Clin Transl Sci 2023; 7:e142. [PMID: 37396810 PMCID: PMC10308423 DOI: 10.1017/cts.2023.555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Health equity research spans various disciplines, crossing formal organizational and departmental barriers and forming invisible communities. This study aimed to map the nomination network of scholars at the University of Rochester Medical Center who were active in racial and ethnic health equity research, education, and social/administrative activities, to identify the predictors of peer recognition. Methods We conducted a snowball survey of faculty members with experience and/or interest in racial and ethnic health equity, nominating peers with relevant expertise. Results Data from a total of 121 individuals (64% doing research on extent and outcomes of racial/ethnic disparities and racism, 48% research on interventions, 55% education, and 50% social/administrative activities) were gathered in six rounds of survey. The overlap between expertise categories was small with coincidence observed between education and social/administrative activities (kappa: 0.27; p < 0.001). Respondents were more likely to nominate someone if both were involved in research (OR: 3.1), if both were involved in education (OR: 1.7), and if both were affiliated with the same department (OR: 3.7). Being involved in health equity research significantly predicted the centrality of an individual in the nomination network, and the most central actors were involved in multiple expertise categories. Conclusions Compared with equity researchers, those involved in racial equity social/administrative activities were less likely to be recognized by peers as equity experts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reza Yousefi Nooraie
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Porooshat Dadgostar
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Gretchen Roman
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - John P. Cullen
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Susan B. Anthony Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Nancy M. Bennett
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
- Center for Community Health and Prevention, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Silverman DM, Rosario RJ, Wormington SV, Tibbetts Y, Hulleman CS, Destin M. Race, academic achievement and the issue of inequitable motivational payoff. Nat Hum Behav 2023; 7:515-528. [PMID: 36823370 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01533-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
As racial inequities continue to pervade school systems around the world, further research is necessary to understand the factors undergirding this pressing issue. Here across three studies conducted in the United States (N = 8,293), we provide evidence that race-based differences in student achievement do not stem from a lack of motivation among Black, Latinx and Indigenous (BLI) students, but a lack of equitable motivational payoff. Even when BLI and non-BLI students have the same levels of motivation, BLI students still receive maths grades that are an average of 9% lower than those of their non-BLI peers (95% confidence interval 7 to 11%). This pattern was not explained by differences in students' aptitude, effort or prior achievement but was instead linked to teachers' diminished expectations for their BLI students' academic futures. We conclude by discussing statistical power limitations and the implications of the current findings for how researchers consider the sources of, and solutions for, educational inequity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David M Silverman
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - R Josiah Rosario
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | - Yoi Tibbetts
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Chris S Hulleman
- School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Mesmin Destin
- Department of Psychology, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- School of Education & Social Policy, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cheng SJ, Gaynor KM, Moore AC, Darragh K, Estien CO, Hammond JW, Lawrence C, Mills KL, Baiz MD, Ignace D, Khadempour L, McCary MA, Rice MM, Tumber-Dávila SJ, Smith JA. Championing inclusive terminology in ecology and evolution. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:381-384. [PMID: 36754709 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Amid a growing disciplinary commitment to inclusion in ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB), it is critical to consider how the use of scientific language can harm members of our research community. Here, we outline a path for identifying and revising harmful terminology to foster inclusion in EEB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan J Cheng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Kaitlyn M Gaynor
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | - Alex C Moore
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Forestry & Conservation Science, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada.
| | - Kathy Darragh
- Department of Evolution & Ecology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Cesar O Estien
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California - Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - J W Hammond
- Humanities Department, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA
| | - Christopher Lawrence
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Kirby L Mills
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marcella D Baiz
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Danielle Ignace
- Department of Forestry & Conservation Science, University of British Columbia, BC, Canada
| | - Lily Khadempour
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
| | | | - Mallory M Rice
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA, USA
| | | | - Justine A Smith
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California - Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Morales N, Lee J, Newberry M, Bailey K. Redefining American conservation for equitable and inclusive social-environmental management. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2749. [PMID: 36130875 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Efforts to recruit, retain, and include Blacks, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in environmental fields often fall short, in part due to limited conceptualizations of conservation and environment. At the core of this is the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation, an important approach to conservation and wildlife management that has influenced conservation globally. This model, however, is based upon a specific subset of worldviews, driven by Western and Eurocentric constructions of wilderness and nature. This model creates a narrow view of human-environment relationships and erases cultures and communities that explicitly view themselves as part of nature. We review the seven tenets of the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation, highlighting their limitations and exclusion of other models of environmental and natural resource management and alternative relationships with nature. In order to support long-term environmental engagement and culturally responsive research, 21st century environmental practitioners should shift our thinking around conservation to center counter narratives of BIPOC communities, scientists, and professionals as part of and meaningfully connected to nature. We argue that relying solely on the historically dominant language and ideologies at the core of the North American Model perpetuates disparities in environmental engagement and limits retention of BIPOC in environmental fields. We further highlight how shifts in understanding conservation and relationships to nature enables us to re-frame our work to support equitable, inclusive, and just conservation science and practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nia Morales
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jordan Lee
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Milton Newberry
- Center for Sustainability & the Environment, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Karen Bailey
- Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Miriti MN, Rawson AJ, Mansfield B. The history of natural history and race: Decolonizing human dimensions of ecology. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2748. [PMID: 36130911 PMCID: PMC10078011 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Natural history, loosely defined as the observational study of organisms in the habitats where they occur, is recognized at the roots of ecology. Although the centrality of natural history in ecology has shifted over time, natural history is currently in resurgence: many again consider it to be the foundation of ecological and evolutionary inquiry and advocate the value of organism-centered approaches to address contemporary ecological challenges. Educators identify natural history as the foundational entryway into the practice of ecology, for example in the Ecological Society of America's Four-Dimensional Ecology Education (4DEE) framework. A strong natural history foundation can help generate testable hypotheses to refine mechanistic understanding of the drivers regulating species distributions and abundances and to inform restoration and conservation efforts. Given the resurgence of natural history as the foundation for ecological knowledge and practice, it is important to recognize that natural history has a long history of racism that has impacted ecological thought and priorities. This history shapes not only who conducts ecological science but also foundational ecological concepts. For example, natural history's emphasis on pristine nature untouched by humans disregards or appropriates stewardship and knowledge of most of the world's population. Because of the legacy of chattel slavery, this exclusion is particularly strong for people of African descent. This exclusion narrows ecological inquiry, limits the capacity to find solutions to ecological problems, and risks interventions that perpetuate the relation between eugenics, ecological knowledge, and natural systems. If ecology is to become an inclusive, responsive, and resilient discipline, this knowledge gap must be addressed. We here present the colonial and racist underpinnings of natural history and offer strategies to expand inclusion in the study of nature. Natural history was steeped in racism, providing a hierarchy of cultures and a taxonomy of races. Complementing growing interest in traditional and Indigenous ecological knowledge, we focus on Black ecological knowledge, for example in the study of "maroon ecologies." Addressing the racist history of natural history is necessary for removing structural and racist barriers to diverse participation and expanding ecological knowledge bases in service of better and more just science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria N. Miriti
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal BiologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Ariel J. Rawson
- Department of GeographyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Becky Mansfield
- Department of GeographyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
We organized this special issue to highlight new work and review recent advances at the cutting edge of 'wild quantitative genomics'. In this editorial, we will present some history of wild quantitative genetic and genomic studies, before discussing the main themes in the papers published in this special issue and highlighting the future outlook of this dynamic field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Johnston
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Nancy Chen
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, 14627, NY, USA
| | - Emily B Josephs
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 48824, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gadsden GI, Golden N, Harris NC. Place-Based Bias in Environmental Scholarship Derived from Social-Ecological Landscapes of Fear. Bioscience 2022; 73:23-35. [PMID: 36643594 PMCID: PMC9832956 DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biac095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Historical perspectives (e.g., moments of social, political, and economic significance) are increasingly relevant for developing insights into landscape change and ecosystem degradation. However, the question of how to incorporate historical events into ecological inquiry is still under development, owing to the evolving paradigm of transdisciplinary thinking between natural science and the humanities. In the present article, we call for the inclusion of negative human histories (e.g., evictions of communities and environmental injustices) as important factors that drive landscape change and shape research questions relevant to environmental conservation. We outline the detrimental effects of conservationists not addressing negative human histories by likening this social phenomenon to the ecological concept of landscapes of fear, which describes how not acknowledging these histories produces a landscape that constrains where and how research is conducted by scientists. Finally, we provide three positive recommendations for scholars or practitioners to address the manifestation of historic place-based bias in ecological research. What we call the social-ecological landscapes of fear provides a conceptual framework for more inclusive practices in ecology to increase the success of environmental and conservation goals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nigel Golden
- Applied Wildlife Ecology (AWE) Lab, School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Nyeema C Harris
- Applied Wildlife Ecology (AWE) Lab, School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Dockry MJ, Sachdeva SS, Fisher CL, Kenefic LS, Locke DH, Westphal LM. Student trainee and paid internship programs have positive results but do little to influence long-term employee diversity in the USDA forest service. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277423. [PMID: 36441728 PMCID: PMC9704576 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) employees are underrepresented in science and natural resource management institutions. Student and recent graduate trainee and internship programs have been used to try to address this in United States federal agencies over the last few decades. Our study evaluates how effective such programs are at improving U.S. federal workforce diversity. We used a comprehensive employee dataset from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service-which has the largest natural resource management workforce in the country-to analyze the demographic characteristics and career paths of paid interns from 1996-2017. We found that a majority of employees who started as interns later converted to permanent employment with the USDA Forest Service. In addition, Black and Hispanic interns were, respectively, 5 and 3 times more likely than White interns to work for the agency in permanent positions after their internships. However, people who started as interns had significantly shorter USDA Forest Service careers than those who started in permanent positions. White women entering directly into permanent positions typically advanced to higher pay grades through promotion faster than White women who entered as interns. Finally, male BIPOC interns involuntarily separated (i.e., were fired) at significantly higher rates than all other employees. Our study suggests that while internship employment programs can be an effective tool for hiring a diverse workforce, they are not sufficient to close the overall workforce diversity gap. In addition, only a small percentage of new hires every year are interns. To achieve a level of representation that mirrors the civilian labor force, our study suggests that internship programs need to focus on long-term employee retention and be of significantly larger scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Dockry
- Department of Forest Resources, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, United States of America
| | - Sonya S. Sachdeva
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| | - Cherie L. Fisher
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| | - Laura S. Kenefic
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Orono, ME, United States of America
| | - Dexter H. Locke
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | - Lynne M. Westphal
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Evanston, IL, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rudzki EN, Kuebbing SE, Clark DR, Gharaibeh B, Janecka MJ, Kramp R, Kohl KD, Mastalski T, Ohmer MEB, Turcotte MM, Richards‐Zawacki CL. A guide for developing a field research safety manual that explicitly considers risks for marginalized identities in the sciences. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth N. Rudzki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Sara E. Kuebbing
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
- The Forest School, Yale School of the Environment New Haven Connecticut USA
| | - David R. Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Burhan Gharaibeh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Mary J. Janecka
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Rachael Kramp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Kevin D. Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Talia Mastalski
- Department of Anthropology, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Michel E. B. Ohmer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
- Department of Biology University of Mississippi University Mississippi USA
| | - Martin M. Turcotte
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Corinne L. Richards‐Zawacki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
- Pymatuning Lab of Ecology University of Pittsburgh Linesville Pennsylvania USA
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Panama
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Madkins TC, Nazar CR. Theoretical perspectives for developing antiracist teaching dispositions and practices in preservice teacher education. SCIENCE EDUCATION 2022; 106:1118-1134. [PMID: 38283850 PMCID: PMC10817211 DOI: 10.1002/sce.21757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
For some time, scholars who are guided by critical theories and perspectives have called out how white supremacist ideologies and systemic racism work to (re)produce societal inequities and educational injustices across science learning contexts in the United States. Given the sociopolitical nature of society, schooling, and science education, it is important to address the racist and settled history of scientific disciplines and science education. To this end, we take an antiracist stance on science teaching and learning and seek to disrupt forms of systemic racism in science classrooms. Since teachers do much of the daily work of transforming science education for minoritized learners, we advocate for preparing teachers who understand what it means to engage in antiracist, justice-oriented science teaching. In this article, we share our framework for supporting preservice teachers in understanding, developing, and implementing antiracist teaching dispositions and instructional practices. In alignment with other researchers in teacher education who emphasize the importance of anchoring teacher education practice and research in prominent educational theory, we highlight the theories undergirding our approach to antiracist science teaching. We offer considerations for how researchers and science teacher educators can use this framework to transform science teacher education.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tia C. Madkins
- Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Christina Restrepo Nazar
- Division of Curriculum and Instruction, California State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Narratives of Positionality in Primatology: Foreign/Range–Country Collaborator Perspectives from Africa and South America. INT J PRIMATOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00311-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
16
|
McLaughlin J. Immersive In‐Person Field Courses during the Pandemic: Minimizing Risk while Maximizing Efficacy. THE BULLETIN OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 103:e01984. [PMID: 35541694 PMCID: PMC9073994 DOI: 10.1002/bes2.1984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Field courses can provide formative experiences that also reduce disparities in STEM education. Impacts of the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic on‐field programs have been particularly severe, as many institutions shifted to online instruction. Some courses retained in‐person field experiences during the pandemic, and achieved high student learning outcomes. Here, I describe an approach to mitigating risk of COVID‐19 and other hazards during expedition‐based field courses, and student learning outcomes achieved using that approach. I applied comprehensive risk management to in‐person field expeditions that treated COVID‐19 as a hazard, requiring mitigation to maintain an acceptable low level of risk. Prior to broad availability of COVID‐19 vaccines, we applied a coronavirus‐free “bubble” strategy in which all participants passed a COVID‐19 PCR test immediately before departure and then avoided contact with people outside our bubble. In the future, vaccination can reduce risk further. We implemented additional safety factors to reduce risk of incidents that could require evacuation into medical facilities overloaded with COVID‐19 patients. The courses were successful: we had no infections or other serious incidents and student learning outcomes were transformative. The approach provides a model for conducting immersive field courses during the pandemic and beyond. Several field course networks are implementing similar approaches to restore valuable field education opportunities that have declined during the pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John McLaughlin
- Department of Environmental Sciences College of the Environment Western Washington University Bellingham Washington 98225 USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Danos N, Staab KL, Whitenack LB. The Core Concepts, Competencies and Grand Challenges of Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Morphology. Integr Org Biol 2022; 4:obac019. [PMID: 35919560 PMCID: PMC9338813 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Core concepts offer coherence to the discourse of a scientific discipline and facilitate teaching by identifying large unifying themes that can be tailored to the level of the class and expertise of the instructor. This approach to teaching has been shown to encourage deeper learning that can be integrated across subdisciplines of biology and has been adopted by several other biology subdisciplines. However, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, although one of the oldest biological areas of study, has not had its core concepts identified. Here, we present five core concepts and seven competencies (skills) for Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy that came out of an iterative process of engagement with the broader community of vertebrate morphologists over a 3-year period. The core concepts are (A) evolution, (B) structure and function, (C) morphological development, (D) integration, and (E) human anatomy is the result of vertebrate evolution. The core competencies students should gain from the study of comparative vertebrate anatomy are (F) tree thinking, (G) observation, (H) dissection of specimens, (I) depiction of anatomy, (J) appreciation of the importance of natural history collections, (K) science communication, and (L) data integration. We offer a succinct description of each core concept and competency, examples of learning outcomes that could be used to assess teaching effectiveness, and examples of relevant resources for both instructors and students. Additionally, we pose a grand challenge to the community, arguing that the field of Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy needs to acknowledge racism, androcentrism, homophobia, genocide, slavery, and other influences in its history and address their lingering effects in order to move forward as a thriving discipline that is inclusive of all students and scientists and continues to generate unbiased knowledge for the betterment of humanity. Despite the rigorous process used to compile these core concepts and competencies, we anticipate that they will serve as a framework for an ongoing conversation that ensures Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy remains a relevant field in discovery, innovation, and training of future generations of scientists.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Danos
- Biology, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92210
| | - Katie Lynn Staab
- Biology Department, McDaniel College, 2 College Hill, Westminster, MD 21157
| | - Lisa B Whitenack
- Depts. of Biology and Geology, Allegheny College, 520 N. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Shaw AK. Diverse perspectives from diverse scholars are vital for theoretical biology. THEOR ECOL-NETH 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12080-022-00533-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AbstractScience is based on studying some aspects of the world while holding others constant. The assumptions of what can and cannot be ignored implicitly shape our understanding of the world around us. This truth is particularly evident when studying biology through mathematical models, where one must explicitly state assumptions during the process of model building. Although we often recognize that all models are “wrong” in their assumptions, we often overlook the corollary that developing multiple models that are wrong in different ways can help us triangulate truth in our understanding. Theoretical biologists build models in the image of how they envision the world, an image that is shaped by their scientific identity, experiences, and perspectives. A lack of diversity in any of these axes handicaps our ability to understand biological systems through theory. However, we can overcome this by collectively recognizing our own assumptions, by understanding how perspective shapes the development of theory, and — most importantly — by increasing the diversity of theoretical biologists (in terms of identity, experiences, and perspectives). Combined, this will lead to developing theory that provides a richer understanding of the biological world.
Collapse
|
19
|
Fanshel RZ, Iles A. Mapping Inequity: The Campus Foodscape as Pedagogy and Practice. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.759076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Universities and colleges are fertile foodscapes for action-based education. They are physical and socio-cultural sites where pressing food systems problems play out at micro to macro scales. Structural inequities based on race, class, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, dis/ability, and other forms of marginalization affect both access to food and to agri-food learning opportunities. In this article, we propose that students can learn through their everyday experiences of engaging with their physical and socio-cultural environment, namely the campus food system, by conducting foodscape mapping. Since 2015, the University of California Berkeley Food Institute has supported the Foodscape Mapping Project, in which students, staff, and faculty generate food systems knowledge while developing practical interventions to advance justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). We investigate how campus foodscape mapping might generate substantive learning about JEDI in food systems education; the kinds of learning that take place through foodscape mapping; and the educational practices and institutional structures that can support learning through foodscape mapping. We identify at least eight forms and processes of expansive learning that emerged through mapping work, using students' own insights into what they were learning. Finally, we reflect on our learning experiences in running the project, and develop broader design elements that other campuses can apply.
Collapse
|
20
|
Archer LJ, Müller HS, Jones LP, Ma H, Gleave R, da Silva Cerqueira A, McMurdo Hamilton T, Shennan‐Farpón Y. Towards fairer conservation: Perspectives and ideas from early‐career researchers. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lucy J. Archer
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Conservation and Behaviour Lab, School of Life Sciences and the Environment Royal Holloway University of London Surrey UK
| | - Helen S. Müller
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Department of Anthropology University College London London UK
| | - Lizzie P. Jones
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Conservation and Behaviour Lab, School of Life Sciences and the Environment Royal Holloway University of London Surrey UK
| | - Heidi Ma
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Conservation and Behaviour Lab, School of Life Sciences and the Environment Royal Holloway University of London Surrey UK
| | - Rosalind A. Gleave
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Conservation and Behaviour Lab, School of Life Sciences and the Environment Royal Holloway University of London Surrey UK
| | - Aline da Silva Cerqueira
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Department of Geography King’s College London London UK
| | - Thalassa McMurdo Hamilton
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research (CBER) University College London London UK
- Biodiversify Newark UK
| | - Yara Shennan‐Farpón
- Zoological Society of London Institute of Zoology London UK
- Department of Anthropology University College London London UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Rudd LF, Allred S, Bright Ross JG, Hare D, Nkomo MN, Shanker K, Allen T, Biggs D, Dickman A, Dunaway M, Ghosh R, González NT, Kepe T, Mbizah MM, Middleton SL, Oommen MA, Paudel K, Sillero-Zubiri C, Dávalos A. Overcoming racism in the twin spheres of conservation science and practice. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211871. [PMID: 34727721 PMCID: PMC8564623 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
It is time to acknowledge and overcome conservation's deep-seated systemic racism, which has historically marginalized Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC) communities and continues to do so. We describe how the mutually reinforcing ‘twin spheres’ of conservation science and conservation practice perpetuate this systemic racism. We trace how institutional structures in conservation science (e.g. degree programmes, support and advancement opportunities, course syllabuses) can systematically produce conservation graduates with partial and problematic conceptions of conservation's history and contemporary purposes. Many of these graduates go on to work in conservation practice, reproducing conservation's colonial history by contributing to programmes based on outmoded conservation models that disproportionately harm rural BIPOC communities and further restrict access and inclusion for BIPOC conservationists. We provide practical, actionable proposals for breaking vicious cycles of racism in the system of conservation we have with virtuous cycles of inclusion, equality, equity and participation in the system of conservation we want.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren F Rudd
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, UK
| | - Shorna Allred
- Center for Conservation Social Sciences, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, USA.,Department of Global Development, Cornell University, USA
| | - Julius G Bright Ross
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, UK
| | - Darragh Hare
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, UK.,Center for Conservation Social Sciences, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, USA
| | - Merlyn Nomusa Nkomo
- Fitzpatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kartik Shanker
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, India.,Dakshin Foundation, India
| | | | - Duan Biggs
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Australia
| | - Amy Dickman
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, UK.,Lion Landscapes, Tanzania
| | | | - Ritwick Ghosh
- Global Futures Laboratory, Arizona State University, USA
| | | | - Thembela Kepe
- Department of Geography, University of Toronto, Canada.,Geography Department, Rhodes University, South Africa
| | - Moreangels M Mbizah
- Wildlife Conservation Action, Zimbabwe.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Switzerland.,Sustainability Research Unit, Nelson Mandela University, George, South Africa
| | - Sara L Middleton
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK.,Department of Plant Sciences, Oxford University, UK
| | | | - Kumar Paudel
- Greenhood Nepal, Nepal.,Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Claudio Sillero-Zubiri
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Oxford University, UK.,Born Free Foundation, Ethiopia and UK
| | | |
Collapse
|