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Welcome to ESA’s award and fellow nomination system.
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Eugene P. Odum Award for Excellence in Ecology Education
The Eugene P. Odum Award celebrates sustained, outstanding work in ecology education. This award was generously endowed by, and named for, the distinguished ecologist Eugene P. Odum. Through teaching, outreach, mentoring and/or other educational scholarship activities, recipients of this award have demonstrated their exceptional abilities to help others learn about ecology and its relevance to humanity. Nominations recognizing achievements in education in universities, K–12 schools, and other contexts are all encouraged.
If you are nominating someone for Eugene P. Odum Award for Excellence in Ecology Education, you can also include supplemental files, not to exceed 10 pages, that provide evidence and artifacts of the nominee's relevant education activities, especially those that are not publicly available.
Nominations should explain how the nominee has demonstrated excellence that serves as a model and inspiration for others in ecology education in one or more of the following, or similar, areas:
- Ecology teaching and curriculum development in elementary, high school, undergraduate and graduate programs, and in other institutional contexts such as nature centers, field stations, and other informal education centers.
- Development and delivery of outreach programs such as those for the general public, teacher training, adult education, distance learning and virtual laboratories.
- Discipline-based education research that advances an understanding of effective methods in ecology education, including publication of findings.
- Mentoring students in the scientific, applied, and educational practices of ecology.
- Creation and dissemination of the philosophy, practices, and value of ecology education in scholarly and public outlets.
- Communication to the general public about ecology and its relevance to humanity
- Leadership in ecology education through service activities such as participation in committees and conferences
Outstanding contributions through these and related activities may be demonstrated by providing evidence such as the following:
- Development and use of innovative and creative teaching techniques, including lessons, pedagogical materials, and assessment methods
- Success in recruiting and working with students of varied abilities and from a diversity of backgrounds, especially in ways that expand participation in ecology and ecology education
- Scholarly publications about ecology education
- Outcomes of student mentorship that show exceptional student achievements
- Effective and engaging communication about ecology for the public (e.g. through newspapers, magazines and blogs)
- Success in fostering student advancement in their careers
- Long-term, impactful contributions to ecology-related education projects, committees, and institutions.
Nominations for this award should include 1) a letter of nomination, 2) a curriculum vitae of at most four pages that focuses on the nominee’s education-related activities, 3) one required letter of support (two-pages maximum), 4) one or two additional letters of support (each two pages maximum), and 5) optional supplemental files, not to exceed 10 pages, that provide evidence and artifacts of the nominee's relevant education activities, especially those that are not publicly available.