Our 2022-2023 Student Advisory Board (SAB) developed and carried out various group activities oriented around two key goals: (1) increase the visibility of ecological opportunities for communities of color and (2) increase the visibility of people of color in the field of ecology.
These activities included:
Group interviews of SAB members (spotlights coming soon!)
Interviews with ecologists of color at a later stage in their career
Curate resources on funding, internships, etc
Collaborate on a local community-oriented ecological activity (below!)
Creating platforms on social media to amplify UNIDE voices
Spotlight of SAB activities:
MJ Dinong, University of Hawaii, Senior
Objective: To showcase a range of environmental science field/lab techniques to prospective high school students. To showcase and discuss work study/ scholarship opportunities at Leeward Community College and UH Manoa. To initiate a conversation on ways young people can contribute and live Malama Aina (Hawaiian Land Stewardship) through science.
Event Format: Half day (4 hours) Event hosts two stations: The Hawaiian Botany station, which will require students to perform plantings (Location: School Garden), and the Marine Bio station, which requires students to survey the local reef with scientific equipment (Location: School Adjacent Reef). Chemistry Showcase: a brief discussion will be held about educational opportunities at the local College and will be closed with a chemical display (Elephant Toothpaste!)
Timeline: We thought targeting rising juniors and seniors in the new school year might be best, so we’re aiming for late August 2023.