The contribution of the Online Agricultural and Resource Economics Seminar to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in agricultural and applied economics

Abstract

In the early days of the COVID‐19 pandemic, we launched the Online Agricultural and Resource Economics Seminar (OARES) in an ostensible effort to maintain a semblance of normalcy in agricultural and applied economics. Our goal with the OARES was to break down the privilege barrier in two ways: by (i) featuring research mainly by junior, female, or minority scholars, and (ii) bringing frontier research to those who may not have had access to a regular seminar series prior to the pandemic. We thus discuss the contribution of the OARES to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in agricultural and applied economics.

An overview of the history, role, and struggles of agricultural economics and business programs at 1890 Land‐Grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)

“…While this number is higher than the percentage of doctoral degrees awarded to Blacks in economics (3.3%), there has been a slight declining trend in the percentage of agricultural economics in recent years. Numerous studies highlight that the reasons for this negative trend may include a lack of mentoring, implicit bias, issues related to belonging, and the perception of the economics field as unwelcoming and hostile (Bayer & Rouse, 2016; Bellemare & Bloem, 2022; Hilsenroth et al, 2022; McCluskey, 2019; Moser, 2022).…”

Building research capacity in an under‐represented group: The STAARS program experience

“…As the STAARS program marks the completion of its sixth cohort of fellows, we present a mixed‐methods assessment of the experience thus far, reporting on adjustments made along the way to improve the program, and reflecting on what it has and has not accomplished after six‐plus years. Our hope is that these insights might help inform others' efforts to address specific features of the systemic discrimination that afflicts the economics community at large, much as Bellemare and Bloem (2022) offer helpful insights from their experience launching and running a virtual seminar series with an explicit diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice objective.…”

“…12 12 Bellemare and Bloem (2022) offer complementary reflections on the value of the Online Agricultural and Resource Economics Seminar, a new venture they launched in part to try to help overcome similar systemic bias within agricultural and applied economics that holds back talented scholars from underrepresented communities and at under‐resourced institutions. We applaud this and other efforts at fostering diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in this and other fields of study. …”

“…Appendix C. 11 Further, funding agencies typically want to see submitted or submission-ready manuscripts as tangible outputs to justify continued funding. 12 Bellemare and Bloem (2022)…”