HUMAN ECOLOGY @ ESA
HE@ESA
“The science of ecology cannot be advanced without improving our understanding of human-environment interactions.”
The Society for Human Ecology was instrumental in helping to create a Human Ecology Section within the Ecological Society of America (ESA). While that section develops, the SHE website will host information for ESA Human Ecology section members.
Human Ecology at the Ecological Society of America meetings
Kennedy F. Rubert-Nason, Associate Professor of Chemistry, University of Maine at Fort Kent, Representing the Human Ecology section of the Ecological Society of America
Members of the Human Ecology section of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) led several activities at the 2026 Ecological Society of America national conference, which took place from July 26 – 31 in Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A. These included a business meeting and several organized sessions:
These sessions were collaboratively organized with the members of the Environmental Justice, Education, Inclusive Ecology and Senior & Advancing Generations of Ecologists sections of the ESA, along with faith-based and Indigenous groups.
Current leaders of the Human Ecology section of the ESA include Drs. Huidong Li of Vanderbilt University and Yehui Zhong of McGill University, and former leaders include Drs. Yiyi Zhang and Kennedy Rubert-Nason. The Human Ecology section will be seeking nominations and holding elections for new leaders during the upcoming year.
Leaders of the Human Ecology section of the ESA are seeking opportunities for collaborative programming targeting the 2027 annual meeting in Toronto, ON, Canada (July 25 – 30, 2027) along with regional conferences, virtual events, and the upcoming Society for Human Ecology meeting at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, Philippines. Former co-chair Dr. Rubert-Nason is particularly keen to pursue opportunities in the area of ecopedagogy and human-Earth relationships. If you would like to get involved or merely share ideas, feel free to reach out to Dr. Rubert-Nason or the current leadership of the section.
The Human Ecology section of the Ecological Society of America is always looking for volunteers and would love to hear from you. For more information about the annual meeting or how to get involved, contact Ned Rubert-Nason at kennedy.rubertnason@maine.edu.