Both Dr. Ebert-May and Dr. Berkowitz have published articles relating research to education and hold leadership positions in the Ecological Society of America. Central to the ESA focus on ecology education are its efforts to improve undergraduate teaching through curriculum development, faculty enhancement, and instructional materials development. The society also aims to influence academic reward systems to embrace a broader profile of scholarship. The society sponsors the attendance of minority students at its annual meetings and encourages their participation in the undergraduate poster session, now a regular feature of the national meeting. Each of the ESA annual meetings has educational forums such as symposia, workshops, roundtable discussions, papers, and posters that address current topics in teaching and learning.
Publications provide another way to support education.
An Ecological Research Agenda , a report produced by distinguished ESA members, is also used in many undergraduate classrooms. Professional societies can help faculty along this pathway by fostering collaboration with science education researchers. Together, our professional societies need to consider mechanisms for rewarding scientists who contribute in substantive ways toward education.