Socio-Economic and Environmental Factors Influence the Relevance of Natural Resources

Rapidly changing demography in the USA has led to concerns regarding the lack of representation of emerging multicultural groups in aquatic science professions. Projections from US census data show that by 2018, our youth under 18 will no longer be majority white.  These changes show large regional differences, and are likely to affect the economic and political success of our natural resource agencies, professional societies, and other institutions.  These trends can have influence on decisions that affect the health and safety of all citizens. The recent recession affected minorities more severely and higher unemployment remains for young African Americans and Hispanics. Particularly disturbing in projections regarding our underrepresented minorities are the lack of income equality, and low head of household net worth when compared with averages for white citizens. We have enormous challenges to overcome to attract members of economically disadvantaged communities to join agencies and professions in natural resources that known to have low wages. Young adults with interest in science will be drawn to higher paying sectors such as human health fields that have more promising future economic security.  I discuss the potential for programs such as student loan forgiveness programs for those that enter natural resource professions.