Identity Matters: Communicating about Equity and Opportunity for Students in Minority-Serving Institutions

Abstract

The entomological community recognizes the imperative for diversifying our profession, by promoting an agenda to broaden participation of junior scientists who are members of groups underrepresented in our discipline. Progress has been inadequate. I describe approaches to professional development and recruitment of students from Minority-Serving Institutions that can result in more equity and diversity in our community. I describe an informal science communication project, using a blog and social media, to communicate with other scientists about effective practices supporting the inclusion of undergraduates in the context of a Minority-Serving Institution. I provide a set of recommendations for entomologists who wish to support the professional development of students from underrepresented groups and communicate about this work more broadly.