Forum on Opportunities in Ecology

This year, the forum was held on July 8, 2008. If you are interested in the details of the forum, please see this flyer.

The full day Forum on Opportunities in Ecology has been one of the most successful parts of our REU program, and has reached an expanding audience regionally, with over 100 attendees annually. In the morning, a diverse group of 12 professionals who are involved in some way in the field of ecology (see the 2008 Speakers' Bios here) give short presentations about:

1. What are the rewards of your career? What is your work day/work week like?
2. What advice would you give to students wanting to pursue your career in terms of education and professional experience?
3. How do you use or apply ecology in your career? Where does the ecological information you use come from?

In the afternoon, students rotate to three different panels that are made up of speakers of like-discipline. The panel discussions give students an opportunity to ask the speakers questions and to probe in more depth into where they get the ecology they use in their careers.

The goals of the forum are 1) to explore the significance of ecology to many important areas in society; 2) to help students see the relationships between their own work and these broader areas; and 3) to provide role models and guidance in a range of careers in ecology and related fields, going beyond those working here.