A Century of Learning: The Story of ESA 's Education Committee, 1918–2025

The Education Committee and its precursors have been highly influential within the Ecological Society of America. Here we document the Education Committee's history, from its origins in reviewing curricular materials through major contributions to ecological literacy, teaching innovation, diversity initiatives, and professional development, and we highlight upcoming challenges. Early activities included preparing periodic education and employment profiles of ecologists, reporting on the status of graduate ecology education, and making recommendations regarding career‐ready training for ecologists. In the 1980s, committee duties expanded to creating learning materials for pre‐college and undergraduate students, evaluating the portrayal of ecological concepts in existing pedagogic materials, and developing a working definition of ecological literacy. In the 1990s, accomplishments included the production of an ecology lab manual, organizing an education‐themed annual meeting, promoting schoolyard ecology for elementary students, and infusing active learning into ecology education. From 1998 to 2021, the Education Committee addressed diversity‐related issues as the Education and Human Resources Committee, a title later changed to the Committee for Diversity and Education. Important work included collaboration on the highly influential Women and Minorities in Ecology I report that led to the establishment of an Education Office with a Director, supporting ESA's diverse undergraduate mentoring program, and with its chair as Vice President for Education and Human Resources, supporting the combined Office of Education and Diversity Programs. Within the past decade, significant contributions have included developing a curricular framework for ecological literacy and increased emphasis on career‐focused professional development. Recent ESA governance changes eliminated the VP position from the ESA Governing Board while enhancing communication within the ESA Council's sections and chapters that promote coordinated addressing of ecology education concerns. Much work remains, but we believe the Committee is positioned to address existing and looming challenges relating to ecology education.