Breaking Down Financial Barriers to Fieldwork

Abstract

Participation in field experiences has been shown to increase students’ confidence, scientific identity, retention, and academic performance (Beltran et al., 2020; Zavaleta et al., 2020). This is particularly true for students from historically excluded groups in ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB). For the purposes of this paper and the novel funding program described herein, field experiences are learning and research opportunities in natural settings that provide students with hands-on, discipline-specific practice and experience (e.g., Morales et al. 2020).