Join us on Zoom, Tuesday, November 19, 7 p.m. Eastern time to hear from Field Inclusive, a nonprofit dedicated to making outdoor fieldwork and outdoor experiences safer for all, particularly marginalized and historically excluded individuals. This program is co-sponsored by the UT Arboretum Society and Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning.

The program is free, but registration is required to receive your Zoom link and the recording. The program will be recorded and sent to all who register. Register at www.utarboretumsociety.org under Programs. Closed captions are available. Please contact Michelle for questions or registration issues.

Lauren D. Pharr, an avian ecologist and co-founder of Field Inclusive, will explain how Field Inclusive works to establish safety precautions for those who professionally work and conduct research outdoors.

Do you feel safe when you go for a walk, bird watching or hiking? Not all members of our community do. Field researchers often experience bias in the field and do not always feel safe. This program will take us into their shoes and help start conversations.

“This will begin the conversation in order to help you co-create tangible, actionable change and social field safety solutions in our own communities and organizations,” explains Pharr, a Ph.D. candidate at North Carolina State University, pursuing her degree in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology.

In addition to her research, Lauren is an advocate for Black and historically excluded minorities in STEM. Both her research and advocacy work led her to be awarded the North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s 2023 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award for Young Conservationist of the Year, the highest honor in the state of North Carolina in the wildlife space. She currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Learn more about the Arboretum Society here.

Melanie Staten is a public relations consultant with her husband, Vince.