Post by Kiera Hale

Hello LinkedIn! I feel so grateful for the Ecological Society of America and my SEEDS family! This past month, I went to the ESA 2025 Annual Meeting and the SEEDS National Field Trip to the University of Colorado Mountain Research Station (MRS). These two opportunities have truly reaffirmed that ecology is the field for me. At the ESA Annual Meeting, I learned about important ecological research happening around the country and the world. I enjoyed going to sessions and panels about forest ecology, urban ecology, and environmental justice. I also loved touring different forest ecology research sites across Baltimore, helping me envision what my own research could look like in an urban setting. I met so many inspiring ecologists, and learned more about my research interests as well. At the University of Colorado Boulder Mountain Research Station (MRS), I traveled to the Rocky Mountains for the first time for a weekend of research, mentorship, and community building. The researchers at the MRS were doing incredible work researching alpine ecosystems, from birds to glaciers. We completed group research projects that culminated in presentations, with my group exploring questions of tree seed establishment in "SEEDS of the Meadow." Beyond the beautiful scenery, the mentors and fellow students on this trip made it an unforgettable experience! Thank you so much to Fred Abbott, Mary Joy Mulumba, Dr. Karen Bailey, and the MRS staff for organizing this incredible experience. Spaces like the ESA Black Ecologist Section and Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability (SEEDS) are crucial for ensuring that the people researching ecology are as diverse as ecology itself. The students I connected with on this trip make me hopeful for the future of science. I'm excited to continue developing as an ecologist alongside this wonderful SEEDS community!