Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in IPM
In 2022, the Northeastern IPM Center launched a webinar series to highlight and foster diversity in integrated pest management (IPM). We have invited presenters from historically marginalized groups to discuss topics related to their research, or to share their perspectives on overcoming barriers and succeeding in their chosen profession.
Although we request that participants register in advance, these webinars are free and open to the public. Registration information is on the detailed individual pages for the webinars listed below. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions in real time, but the presentations will also be recorded and posted on the Center’s YouTube channel.
Upcoming Webinars
DEI in IPM Panel Discussion
October 29, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT)
Presenters: Dr. Antomia “Mia” Farrell, Dr. Quatez Scott, Dr. Jacquelyn Mosley, Dr. Anna Katharine Mansfield
Description: This panel will explore a unique Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) perspective; best practices of DEI; an opportunity to learn how to implement change in light of anti-DEI legislation, and how it’s affecting experiences across the country.
Bee Breeding and IPM for Better Pollinator Health
November 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. (EST)
Presenter: Dr. Hongmei Li-Byarlay – Associate Professor, Central State University
Description: This presentation will focus on current research on the genetics and breeding of mite-resistant stocks in honey bees, and a recent study using a sustainable method to manage varroa mites in bee hives.
Recorded Webinars
Kosher, Halal and Insects: How do they relate?
Recorded March 25, 2024
Presenter: Dr. Joe Regenstein – Professor Emeritus, Food Science and Head of the Cornell University Kosher and Halal Food Initiative
Description: Join us for a presentation about kosher and halal food regulations, and how they relate to insects in a food and feed context.
Expanding the Integrated Weed Management Toolbox: Evaluating IWM Approaches for Maryland and Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Production Systems
Recorded September 12, 2022
Presenter: Dwayne Joseph – Agriculture and Food Systems Agent for Kent County, Maryland
Description: Join us to hear about current research evaluating integrated weed management (IWM) plans for vegetable production.
As I Heal, So Does the Land: A Story About Blackness, Conservation, and Healing in America
Recorded October 4, 2022
Presenter: Krystal Monique Toney – author and Ph.D. student in environmental science at the University of North Texas
Description: Join us to hear about blackness, conservation, and healing in America with Krystal Monique Toney.
Utilization of Biologicals and Biofumigation for Effective Management of Soilborne Diseases in Fruits and Vegetables
Recorded October 5, 2022
Presenter: Mahfuz Rahman – plant pathologist and Extension specialist at West Virginia University
Description: Join us to learn about beneficial microbes, including results from some recent studies on tomatoes, eggplants, okras, and strawberries.
Cooperative Extension in Indigenous Communities: Experiences of Educators
Recorded November 8, 2022
Presenter: Katie Hartmann – Adjunct Assistant Professor, Agriculture Education and Studies Department at Iowa State University
Description: Join us to learn how Extension educators are creating successful collaborations with Indigenous communities, as well as some of the barriers that they face, and the systemic structures that can be put into place to support them.
Non-traditional Areas for IPM Careers and the Associated Challenges for 2SLGBTQIA+ Individuals in Pursuing Them
Recorded December 7, 2022
Presenter: Ryan Gott – Fellow at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
Description: Join us to hear about the fruitful opportunities for integrated pest management in the wide world of green industry careers, and the challenges faced by some members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Language Justice: A Webinar on the Intersection of Language, Justice, and Agriculture Offering Practical Strategies for Cross-language Communication
Recorded January 9, 2023
Presenters: Adriana Pericchi, director Apertura, LLC, and Ethan Grundberg, regional vegetable specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program.
Description: Join us to learn about language access and language justice, why it is relevant for agriculture, and what are some tools and approaches to consider when planning a multilingual event.
Inclusive and Equitable Evidence-Based Approaches: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go from Here?
Recorded April 26, 2023
Presenter: Dr. Shannon Archibeque-Engle, Associate Vice President for Inclusive Excellence at Colorado State University
Description: Leveraging decades of scholarship, this workshop offers sound, evidence-based advice to address diversity, equity, and inclusion goals on three levels: individual, organizational, and systemic.
Promoting LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in the IPM Field: Perspectives from IPM Professionals
Recorded June 20, 2023
Presenters: Kim Skyrm, John McMullen, Samantha Bosco, and Mary Centrella
Description: This panel will explore the connection between the IPM professional community and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Why DEIJ?
The Northeastern IPM Center joins numerous peer and partner organizations in recognizing the active role we can play in championing and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ).
This follows from a broadening awareness that DEIJ is not an isolated area of advocacy, but rather a foundational component of every endeavor, profession, field, and discipline. When capable people are implicitly or explicitly excluded because of their identities, talent and opportunities go to waste and dreams and goals go unrealized—individually and collectively. A commitment to DEIJ helps both people and organizations fulfill their potential.
Diversity as a Center Priority
The Center has recognized Diversity in IPM as a cross-cutting issue that undergirds everything we do. Our commitment to this philosophy should be reflected throughout the research we fund, the extension work we facilitate, and the communication we coordinate.
Diversity in IPM Webinar Series
Overview
The Diversity in IPM webinar series will further the Center’s DEIJ goals in several ways:
- Overcoming obstacles: Presenters will discuss how their traditionally marginalized identities have shaped the lived experience of becoming and being professionals in IPM and related fields. This includes challenges and barriers but also victories and success stories.
- Visibility and representation: In efforts to overcome marginalization, representation matters. We aim to provide an opportunity for people from historically marginalized groups to see others that look, think, or identify as they do in positions of success and accomplishment in IPM and related fields. In so doing, we hope to encourage aspiring professionals to consider careers in these fields, especially if they might otherwise have been dissuaded for fear that their marginalized identities would make it prohibitively difficult or unrewarding.
This and related initiatives are a work in progress and we welcome collaborators, ideas, and feedback to help them strengthen and grow over time.
Future Opportunities
The Diversity in IPM initiative will be ongoing and more webinars will be added.
We are exploring options for making some webinars available in both English and Spanish.
If you are interested in presenting another webinar—or in contributing to or participating in this DEIJ initiative in any other way—please contact Jana Hexter, grants and partnerships coordinator, at jh30@cornell.edu.
Additional Resources
Agricultural Science
- Tulane University has a library guide that provides resources for celebrating BIPOC scientists in STEM: libguides.tulane.edu/BIPOC_STEM/
- Oregon State University has a section on their website that elevates the voices of BIPOC agricultural scientists, past and present: agsci.oregonstate.edu/newsroom/bipoc-agsci
Entomology
- Dominic A Evangelista, et al., “Why Diversity Matters Among Those Who Study Diversity,” American Entomologist 66, no. 3 (September 21, 2020): 42–49, doi: 10.1093/ae/tmaa037.
- Entomologists of Color provides POC paid memberships to various entomological societies, making participation, scientific communication and outreach more inclusive to POC. See their website for additional resources.
- The Insect Ambassadors recently put together a video for Black History Month celebrating the contributions of renowned Black Entomologists to the field. Watch the video on YouTube.
- Memoirs of Black Entomologists
- Retirement tribute to Professor Vernard Lewis, Berkeley’s first African American entomologist
- The Latinx Agricultural Network (LAN) is a Penn State College of Agriculture Community of Practice comprised of community members, graduate students, extension educators, faculty, and administrators who seek to enhance Penn State’s engagement with its Latinx stakeholders. Priority initiatives are guided by input from Latinx community leaders. The LAN mission is to implement avenues of access and support and promote active participation and inclusion of the Latinx community in Extension programming and research and teaching activity.
- #BlackinEntomology Week
- International Association of Black Entomologists (IABE) is an association serving the professional, scientific, social, and cultural interests and needs of black men and women in entomology (insect science) and related disciplines. The term “black” is inclusive and refers to minorities of different origins and nationalities, including African Americans, Africans, Caribbeans, Latinos, and Native Americans. Non-black nationals with interest in furthering the goals of the association are welcome. IABE is an affiliate of the Entomological Society of America (ESA) with a diverse membership including professors, educators, researchers and scientists from various institutions and agencies, extension personnel, consultants, and students.
- Professor Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has published research on pest management.
LGBTQ+
- The website 500 Queer Scientists provides short profiles of a large number of people who identify as LGBTQ+, or as allies, working in STEM and STEM-supporting jobs.
Science and Technology
- Women in Science 2023 – Technology Networks has published an e-book containing interviews with female scientists working across many disciplines. Learn about their experiences and hear advice for forging a career in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine.