Not Such Strange Bedfellows: Underserved Public Audiences as Collaborators for Ecologists

Abstract

Ecosystem ecology provides a powerful framework to understand and care for biota and the environment. However, ecosystem ecologists have been limited in their abilities to share their knowledge with people outside of academia – particularly underserved audiences and those who have little exposure to science and nature – even though this would benefit scientists and society at large. I have developed the Research Ambassador Program, a project that recruits and guides ecosystem scientists of all ages to carry out innovative science outreach to audiences that traditionally have little or no contact with nature or the enterprise of ecosystem science. I present case studies that provide models for ecosystem scientists to link the ecological values of the organisms and processes they study to other societal values, including recreational, religious, aesthetic, emotional, and social justice values. I describe how non-scientific values have inspired and motivated some of the prominent ecologists of our time.