Media report on UMaine study about recruiting more women for forestry careers
The Bangor Daily News, Phys.org, Canadian Biomass Magazine, Pulp and Paper Canada, Bioenergy Insight and Advanced Biofuels USA shared a University of Maine study that outlines how to recruit more women for careers in the forestry industry, particularly the bioenergy sector. The team found that attracting and retaining women in bioenergy and related-fields can be done by offering interdisciplinary research opportunities in higher education; having employers provide ample support and outreach; and promoting relatable success stories. “In order to create change and new innovative ideas, for researchers and the community, we need to make it a priority to make moves to alter the existing institutional dynamic, especially in a historically white male dominated industry and sector,” said Abigayl Novak, a master’s student in forest resources at the BioEnergy Lab of the School of Forest Resources who led the study.