Interdisciplinary approaches to advancing anti-racist pedagogies in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology

Benjamin A Hà; Kiana Foxx; Samantha T Mensah; Paul H Barber; Rachel L Kennison

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.003

Interdisciplinary approaches to advancing anti-racist pedagogies in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology

Trends Ecol Evol. 2023 Aug;38(8):683-687. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.003. Epub 2023 Jun 1.

Authors

Benjamin A Hà¹, Kiana Foxx², Samantha T Mensah³, Paul H Barber⁴, Rachel L Kennison⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: benjamin.ha@ucla.edu.
² Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, 457 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
³ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
⁴ Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
⁵ 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. Electronic address: rkennison@ceils.ucla.edu.

PMID: 37268526
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.05.003

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.

Keywords: STEM higher education; anti-racism; anti-racist interventions; culturally relevant pedagogy; ideological awareness; inclusive pedagogy.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Biology
Racism*