Diversifying student demographics in forestry and related natural resources disciplines

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-23-2015

Department

College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science

Abstract

Diversification of student demographics in forestry and related natural resources (NR) disciplines is required if the profession is to get to a point where its diversity is reflective of society as a whole and is to help change culture and enable new perspectives in ecosystem management. Given this premise, our discussions at the Berkeley Summit began by asking the following five key questions regarding undergraduate student demographics at the major NR academic programs in the United States: (1) Is there a demand for women and underrepresented minorities in the NR professions? (2) Why are women and minorities less attracted to NR disciplines than to most other disciplines? (3) Why are women in particular less attracted to forestry than to other NR disciplines, including Environmental Science and Studies, Fisheries and Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation and Management, Natural Resources Recreation, Range Science and Management, Watershed Science and Management, and Wood Science and Products? (4) Why are there differences among ethnic/racial groups in their attraction to forestry and related NR disciplines? and (5) Why do some universities attract higher percentages of women and minorities in forestry and related areas of NR than do others?

Publisher's Statement

Copyright © 2015 Society of American Foresters. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.5849/jof.15-031

Publication Title

Journal of Forestry

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