By UC Merced
Students and researchers in the field of ecology are converging in Long Beach right now to attend the annual Ecological Society of America meeting. There, fourth-year Ph.D. candidate Jarrod L. Brown Jr. of UC Merced will present his sociology research on ¿field curious?, a program offered through the UC Merced UC Nature.
The immersive opportunity is designed to enhance undergraduate students’ sense of belonging in the field and encourage them to ask questions about the natural world. ¿field curious? The program introduces undergraduates to field research during a weekend stay at an UC Nature reserve. The program is designed to lower barriers preventing many students, especially first-generation college attendees and those from minority backgrounds, from giving field research a try.
“So far there has been evidence of an increased sense of belonging in field research for the participants. Evidence is shown both in our qualitative interviews that I conduct and code thematically and within our survey data from the participants,” Brown said. “I also am fortunate to see it first-hand by attending the ¿field curious? trips. It is really a great program for the students at UC Merced.”
In addition to the data he has gathered, Brown will present testimonies from students who say the program has improved their academics and leadership skills and helped them see opportunities for them in fields where people of their genders and races are not typically seen.
“It makes me feel proud to know that the work I have been doing as a graduate student researcher in collaboration with Jessica Malisch (associate director of the UC Merced UC Nature) and Professor Mindy Findlater has been recognized,” he said. “I am excited to present the work amongst ecologists and other scholars interested in similar endeavors.”
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