Environmental Justice in Ecological Research and Education

n recent decades the ecological sciences have documented numerous examples of disparities in access to natural resources and cases of marginalized communities facing disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards. However, the broader problem of environmental racism has been viewed by many scholarly communities as a societal issue that is “somebody else’s problem,” rather than as a problem that environmental researchers must address. How can we address the ecological factors associated with social inequities and environmental injustices? How might this information offer insights into gaps in environmental justice research? How can environmental justice be substantively incorporated into ecology education curricula?