Updates From ESA Leadership

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May 20, 2025

Dear ESA Members,

We, as Governing Board Members of ESA, in light of current events in our nation, with impacts that affect all of us locally and globally, write to you today to offer encouragement and to assure that there is a path forward. Even in this difficult moment in time, ESA is dedicated to its mission to advance the science and practice of ecology (which includes a wide array of fields ranging from paleontology to global change biology and from agriculture to epidemiology) and to support ecologists throughout their careers. ESA remains steadfast to this mission, which has guided us for more than a century (come to celebrate our 110th Annual Meeting this August in Baltimore!), and now takes on special significance given recent and unprecedented changes to our enterprise.

To be sure, the current undermining of the scientific community and research is troubling, to say the least. The cancellation of federal research grants, the paused funding for existing federal grants and the dismantling of federal programs is devastating, especially for our students and early career members who are at the beginning of their careers. As if getting degrees — whether undergraduate, graduate or certificates — and building careers in environmental science and policy wasn’t hard enough, now this!

It is our sincere hope that ESA and the vast community of environmental researchers and practitioners know that this is the time to band together and offer support to each other. While it is understandable that anxiety about the future can lead to despair, we should not let this happen because it distracts us from the power we have as individuals to make a difference. When it seems there is little we can do, we should not lose sight of the fact that a kind word or lending an ear to just listen to a colleague is a powerful way help and provide encouragement. These unprecedented times for U.S. science also call for original, new ways of thinking to inform actions on behalf of the community.

All this to say, ESA is open for business, is seeking ways to reach out to support everyone in our fields and is actively exploring and strategizing ways — old and new — to serve its members.

The ESA Governing Board and staff are dedicated to supporting ecologists and fighting for science. Amid the barrage of events demanding our attention, we are tracking developments and can share news (both good and bad) that impacts our community. ESA is focusing on taking action for our members and the science of ecology.

Last week the ESA Governing Board met and discussed current affairs and tangible steps to take now. We are highlighting some discussion and outcomes:

ESA’s Governing Board reaffirmed its support of the 26-year-old flagship undergraduate program, SEEDS, even with the anticipated loss of federal grant funding, because it supports diversity, equity and inclusion. Given that NSF is unlikely to sponsor many important diversity and career development programs in the next few years, the ESA Governing Board agreed to provide funding to ensure SEEDS continues over the next year while other funding sources are sought. Thank you to the many ESA members who support SEEDS through donations.

We charged the Meetings Committee and staff to build out additional career programming for ecologists in transition and upheaval. This began immediately with a series of webinars on career opportunities and transitions, and efforts continue for the Annual Meeting in Baltimore:

  • Registration and dependent care grants were targeted to ecologists directly affected by federal cuts.
  • Career Central is expanding to include a job fair and extra mentoring and networking on Monday, August 11.
  • We created registration options to facilitate more limited participation in activities at a reduced rate.
  • Staff will work to accommodate later requests for cancellations, including the options of substituting speakers or pre-recording talks for invited speakers.

In our Publications Office, staff are providing support and guidance for authors with submitted or accepted ESA journal articles. If there are funding challenges or other considerations, email esajournals@nullesa.org for assistance.

And we directed our Public Affairs Office to continue its advocacy with Congress, the Administration and the courts on your behalf. Public Affairs staff work with coalitions to amplify our impact and coordinate with our sister societies; as just one example of these efforts, see ESA’s recent letter — signed by more than 60 additional organizations — to the Secretary of the Interior in response to the proposed dismantling of the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area. We are also co-sponsoring this virtual rally on May 22 to support the Ecosystems Mission Area with our friends at the National Wildlife Federation and a broad coalition of organizations concerned about conservation. Public Affairs crafts action alerts that spur ESA members to contact Congress and federal agencies, joins amicus briefs on behalf of science and the federal workforce and meets regularly with Congress to advocate for the STEM workforce and the science of ecology.

ESA, its staff, and volunteers are all working as quickly and effectively as possible under constantly changing conditions.

Ways You Can Help

In closing, we fully acknowledge the problems we face. It’s not easy now and there are rough seas ahead. Looking back on ESA’s 110-year history, we are reminded that ESA and the ecological community survived two world wars, a great depression and most recently the global COVID pandemic.

We know that ESA, and you, will get through this difficult time by banding together with resolve. Support each other, stay connected to ESA and let it be the calm in the storm — a place where you are supported and ecology is valued.

Sincerely, on behalf of the Governing Board,

Stephanie Hampton
ESA President

Peter Groffman
ESA President-Elect

Shahid Naeem
ESA Past-President

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