2023 IDEA Award Winner: Dr. Corey Welch
Congratulations to the recipient of the 2023 IDEA Award, Dr. Corey Welch!
Dr. Welch was selected for his wide range of work to broaden participation of students and professionals from diverse backgrounds in all areas of STEM. Using the latest research on student success and his training in vertebrate ecology and evolution, he established and now directs an award-winning undergraduate training program, the STEM Scholars Program at Iowa State University. During his work with the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), where he served on the board of directors for six years, Dr. Welch launched an ongoing mentoring program at the society’s annual meeting and has served as a facilitator for the Linton-Poodry SACNAS Leadership Institutes. In addition to this work, Dr. Welch has led more than 40 seminars and presentations, mainly at biology and EEB departments, on how to improve DEI in STEM. Most recently, Dr. Welch founded the Sharon Farr Welch Northern Cheyenne Tribal Scholarship program for students from his own Northern Cheyenne community to pursue higher education.
Dr. Corey Welch will present his work during the IDEA Award Plenary at the in-person portion of the Evolution 2024 meeting in Montreal this July. This event will also be live-streamed for all meeting registrants.
The ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award was created in 2019 by the American Society of Naturalists (ASN), the Society for the Study of Evolution (SSE), and the Society of Systematic Biologists (SSB). The IDEA Award is given to a person at any career stage who has strengthened the ecology and evolutionary biology community by promoting inclusiveness and diversity in our fields. The award can also be presented to a group. The recipient will receive a plaque at the annual meeting of ASN/SSB/SSE and a $1000 honorarium. Recipients are also encouraged to submit an accompanying article on their IDEA work (primary research, review, insight or commentary and made freely available) to the relevant ASN/SSE/SSB society journal. Published articles would highlight the award obtained. Nominations are due in January of each year.
2022: Suchinta Arif and Melanie Duc Bo Massey
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2022 IDEA Award, PhD candidates Suchinta Arif and Melanie Duc Bo Massey, cofounders of the scientific outreach organization Diversity of Nature (DoN). Arif and Massey founded Diversity of Nature at Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia, Canada) in 2020. DoN is specifically designed to be led by BIPOC scientists and aimed at BIPOC youth, with the goal of increasing BIPOC representation in the natural sciences. DoN’s array of inclusive programming includes panels, workshops, and an annual field camp, all free of charge to participants. Arif and Massey have also led publications on actionable guidance for supporting and retaining underrepresented students in evolution and ecology and accrued impressive portfolios of additional teaching, outreach, and DEI-related activities. Thank you Suchinta and Melanie for your dedication to increasing BIPOC representation in the natural sciences!
2021: Adriana Briscoe
Congratulations to Dr. Adriana Briscoe, recipient of the second annual ASN/SSE/SSB Inclusiveness, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Award. Over her entire career, Dr. Briscoe has shown a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion that has resulted in the recruitment and retention of diverse scientists in the evolution workforce at all professional levels. Dr. Briscoe also contributes to international inclusion, regularly publishing research with co-authors from global south countries. Her DEI work also includes published scholarship and popular media related to her outreach. Dr. Briscoe has also been recognized for her research excellence and contributions to education by the largest STEM diversity organization in the country, the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS). Thank you to Dr. Briscoe for your commitment and contributions to the community!
2020: Scott Edwards and Richard Kliman
The recipients of the inaugural IDEA Award were Dr. Scott Edwards and Dr. Richard Kliman. Dr. Edwards and Dr. Kliman were selected for their steadfast commitment to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion of underrepresented minorities in evolutionary biology. In 2001, they started the Undergraduate Diversity at Evolution (UDE) program to provide funding and mentorship for students to attend the annual Evolution meeting. Since its inception, nearly 250 US and international undergraduates have had the opportunity to participate. Thank you to Dr. Edwards and Dr. Kliman for your commitment and contributions to the community!
