PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #47: Education: K-12.
Wednesday, August 7. Presentation from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Exhibit Hall B & C, TCC

Racial differences in students' perception and disposition to pursue careers in ecology.

Abell, Stanley^*,1, ¹ LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis, TN

ABSTRACT- There has been a modest increase in the number of African American students majoring in ecology. Current efforts to increase minority representation and participation in this field have produced positive results, but there is still room for improvement. The retention rates of African American students in ecology could be increased to levels comparable to those in business, education, and allied health. It is my hypothesis that factors unrelated to academic performance are responsible for the rarity and low sustainability of African Americans in ecology programs. In this study, I surveyed high school students and college freshmen of both races, and related their socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to their perceptions about ecology, and their predisposition to pursue ecology as a career profession. Both groups gave similar responses and commitments to ecology, except in those areas where ecology or nature preservation efforts conflicted with immediate economic benefits. African American students were less receptive than whites to sacrifice economic gains and job opportunities for nature preservation. More white students considered ecology to be a profession that would command respect in their communities. African American students were more concerned than white students about urban pollution, especially environmental injustice issues that directly impact their communities.

KEY WORDS: race, perception, careers, education