Alan R. Berkowitz
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

What influences people to become ecologists? We have many ideas about this - family members, mentors, outdoor experiences, early academic success, curiosity, a desire to make a different for people and the planet. Are there distinctive patterns or syndromes of interest in ecology among people, and do these vary in any way that makes sense? What insights can we glean that might be helpful as we design programs to engage young people in ecology?

Over the years, I have been interviewing guests of the Institute to explore how interest in ecology starts, which factors accelerate or direct it and which discourage or constrain it. A semi-structured interview protocol has emerged from this informal work that will be used over the coming years to address these questions in a more formal study of vocational interest in ecology.

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