We were challenged by #Strike4BlackLives and #ShutdownSTEM to spend June 10, 2020 working on ways to further support People of Color (POC) in STEM. Reading #BlackIntheIvory tweets about POC experiences in STEM inspired us to take action. As a group, we strive to increase access to STEM education for POC, young and old. Access to education can create long-lasting and far-reaching effects to communities. We are starting an initiative to increase participation of POC in scientific societies.
Recently, statistics about the drastically low number of POC in Ecology and Evolution were highlighted (Graves, 2019). Similarly, for entomology we know that the numbers of POC graduate students is low, compared to the number of POC in the general population; for example, the NSF reports that of graduate students in entomology/parasitology, only 2.3% are Black, 4.8% are Hispanic/Latinx, and 0.17% are Pacific Islander (NSF Demographic Report, 2016; 16% of entomology graduate students are POC). For graduate students in general, the cost of membership to scientific organizations may be a barrier to participation.
Our group, Entomologists of Color, strives to close this gap by providing paid memberships for POC to various entomological societies, making participation, scientific communication and outreach more inclusive to POC.
Why focus on society memberships? By sponsoring a membership you are providing an entomology student of color with STEM resources, and community activities that will help them become lifelong entomology-ophiles. Membership to scientific societies allows participation in networking events, provides access to scientific publications and other member-restricted scientific content, and reduced meeting costs. All necessary tools for a successful career.
How can you get involved?
Students: Visit the APPLY page for further details.
Supporters: Visit the DONATE page for further details.
Organizations: If you would like your societal membership info added please CONTACT US.
Update: September 2020
Thanks to the outpouring of support from donations, we far exceeded our initial goal of $5000 and have raised more $13,000. We want to thank every donator for your selfless contribution, and praise you on providing countless opportunities for BIPOC students around the globe.
Furthermore, we would also like to thank the various entomological and arachnological societies for providing additional free memberships for BIPOC students. We are very grateful for your support.
Finally, we are extremely excited to announce that 40 recipients of the EntoPOC memberships will be attending the Entomology 2020 virtual meeting. Each student will be grouped with an entomology mentor, both of whom will attend seminars, talks, and poster sessions together.
Thanks to the outpouring of support from donations, we far exceeded our initial goal of $5000 and have raised more $13,000. We want to thank every donator for your selfless contribution, and praise you on providing countless opportunities for BIPOC students around the globe.
Furthermore, we would also like to thank the various entomological and arachnological societies for providing additional free memberships for BIPOC students. We are very grateful for your support.
Finally, we are extremely excited to announce that 40 recipients of the EntoPOC memberships will be attending the Entomology 2020 virtual meeting. Each student will be grouped with an entomology mentor, both of whom will attend seminars, talks, and poster sessions together.
The Future of EntoPOC
As we enter our fourth month of donations, we have decided to focus on two main pillars of action and awareness within EntoPOC.
As we enter our fourth month of donations, we have decided to focus on two main pillars of action and awareness within EntoPOC.
Outreach & Recruitment
In order to give as many memberships to BIPOC students as possible, we make our presence known not only through various social media platforms, but also through interviews, podcasts, and articles within the scientific community. Of course the students are the heart of our organization, and the students who receive membership and registrations to entomological societies and meetings is what we ultimately strive for.
Click below to learn more about our outreach.
In order to give as many memberships to BIPOC students as possible, we make our presence known not only through various social media platforms, but also through interviews, podcasts, and articles within the scientific community. Of course the students are the heart of our organization, and the students who receive membership and registrations to entomological societies and meetings is what we ultimately strive for.
Click below to learn more about our outreach.
Retention & Advocacy
Having BIPOC students stay involved with EntoPOC is as important as their recruitment, and we provide a litany of opportunities for past recipients to help within our organization.
Click below to learn about retention.
Having BIPOC students stay involved with EntoPOC is as important as their recruitment, and we provide a litany of opportunities for past recipients to help within our organization.
Click below to learn about retention.