Effective strategies for integrating field safety into your insect diversity course

Field stations and field courses represent a landscape where academia intersects with social and sometimes, domestic, life and presents unique challenges for researchers navigating the boundaries and expectations present there. Safety (Clancy et al. 2014), inclusion (O’Brien 2020) and diversity (Anderson 2018) in field biology are all well-documented issues that need to make significant strides to reach satisfactory levels. In particular, early career scientists and students rely on field stations and courses for data collection, access to field sites, and to grow their scientific and professional networks and careers (Klug et al. 2002), but they may be some of the most vulnerable participants in these activities. Here, I present recommendations for cultural change, leadership accountability, policy development, and reporting to optimize the safety and inclusiveness of field-based courses.