Women in Ecology
Celebrating Women Ecologists
Introduction to the Women In Ecology Series
Introduction to the Women In Ecology Series
Women in ecology – whether they be scientists, researchers, or academics (or a combination thereof) often face challenges that run the gamut from obtaining funding to climbing the academic ladder and gaining opportunities in leadership positions. Those early in their careers often face the greatest roadblocks as moving up requires experience, connections, additional schooling and financial resources to sustain them until they have advanced further in the profession.
Editor's Letter
“There’s been a high number of women in the field of ecology and fields of conservation and biology in college, but as you go deeper in grad schools and Ph.D. programs the numbers go down,” observes Teresa Dorado program coordinator for the Farm Hub’s Applied Farmscape Ecology Program, who credits the Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program that she participated in helping jump start her career. In addition, “what was beneficial to me was having the mentors and the support system to go to share if I had a new experience,” she says.
Here at the Farm Hub the Applied Farmscape Ecology Program is a two-woman team made up of Anne Bloomfield, an ecologist with a particular passion for bird conservation and Dorado. The program’s Applied Farmscape Ecology Research Collaborative (AFERC), is a network of researchers whose discoveries in the areas of soil, insects, water, birds and plants, contribute to knowledge for farmers in the region and beyond. Within the AFERC network many of the scientists and researchers are women. They are engaged in a broad spectrum of initiatives, from examining connections between insect life and soil health, monitoring the nesting patterns of birds on farmland, and scouting for pests on vegetables to tracking turtles in farm fields to understand their nesting patterns so that the fields can be more turtle friendly.
Unfortunately, the stories of women in the field of ecology — their contributions, personal biographies and journeys – remain under-told or untold. Often their stories are nothing less than remarkable. Among the women ecologists at the Farm Hub, some are the first in their family to attain higher degrees, the first to make conservation their livelihood or the first to have their research published in academic journals.
While challenges remain, so do the opportunities for women in the field that are in many ways boundless. A paradigm shift where more women are working in ecology and in decision making positions could take generations, but it is possible. That change is critical and will take a community effort.
Outreach, awareness and a shared belief that strength in numbers can translate to more women in leadership and decision-making positions. Some industry organizations aim to create a community for women in the field through working groups; Women of Wildlife (WOW), a national network of women (many of them in conservation ecology) that was born out of The Wildlife Society.
Since 2013, Jennifer Merems, a science editor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been an active member of WOW. In the decade since joining (beginning when she was a Ph.D student in wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison), Merems has seen not only support of womens’ professional growth in the field, but “a lot more women coming in. We are just feeling more comfortable coming into this space.”
In recent years Merems has been focused on elevating women in ecology through education and information sharing through a newsletter and the annual conference where timely issues are shared through discussion and panels. In 2024 The Wildlife Society Wisconsin Chapter launched the first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award.
“It is hard to manage wildlife when you have one voice managing it. We are missing a big piece if we are not including those individuals and voices,” Merems says.
Finally, there is storytelling, specifically documenting and collecting stories of women in ecology. In doing so we are not only celebrating their contributions but inspiring the next generation to consider opportunities in a fast-growing profession fueled by changing climate and growing awareness surrounding environmental conservation.
In the end, women ecologists assert that moving the needle requires the next generation to first and foremost hold true to their passion and stay connected.
It also requires the current and future generation that holds leadership positions to be willing to mentor and support this work, Dorado adds.
A community of support that includes people from many identities and not only women is important for change also. “Women should not do all the heavy lifting nor should the next generation,” says Bloomfield.
“Young women should look out for each other and never forget that hard-won opportunities can be taken away if we are not vigilant. Pioneering women ecologists made it possible for women today to enjoy the full benefits of being a scientist. We should not forget those heroes or take their work for granted,” says Carmen Greenwood a conservation biologist and insect ecologist and Professor at SUNY Cobleskill.
Through the stories we invite you to celebrate these women in ecology – their contributions and stories and all of the challenges and opportunities that make up their individual journeys.
– Amy Wu, Communications Manager
Explore the Portraits
Click on a portrait below to read their full stories.
