Inclusive Nature
A New Book on Inclusive Nature: Science, Equity, and the Outdoors
Reclaiming space in nature and science, one voice at a time.
About the Book
Inclusive Nature is a forthcoming collection that centers the voices of those historically excluded from the fields of science, conservation, and outdoor spaces. Through essays, stories, and calls to action, this book invites readers to reimagine the natural world as a place of belonging, healing, and justice.
Key Themes and Focus Areas:
- Equity in the outdoors – Examining the historical roots of exclusion and barriers to access in parks, fieldwork, and recreation.
- Decolonizing Conservation – Challenging Western Frameworks and reclaiming place-based, ancestral, and community-rooted knowledge in environmental science.
- Making Science Accessible – Centering the experiences of Black and Indigenous people, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled and neurodivergent communities, and international scholars.
- Institutional Call to Action – Offering tangible strategies for universities, agencies, and organizations to meaningfully advance equity and inclusion in science and conservation.
Editors and Contributors
Lauren D. Pharr, PhD
Editor
Dr. Lauren D. Pharr is an avian behavioral ecologist and award-winning science communicator whose work bridges bird behavior, conservation, and inclusion in the outdoors. She holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University and co-founded Field Inclusive, a nonprofit supporting marginalized voices in fieldwork and nature. Lauren’s writing has appeared in National Geographic, WIRED, PBS SciNC, and The Nature Conservancy’s Cool Green Science blog. Her leadership and outreach have earned her multiple honors, including the 2023 Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award for Young Conservationist of the Year from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation.
Learn more about Lauren
Contributors
This book features over 40 contributors from across the United States and around the world — bringing perspectives from Indigenous Communities, Black and Brown scientists, LGBTQ+ researchers, disabled and neurodivergent naturalists, international scholars, educators, artists, and community organizers.
Full contributor bios coming soon.
Chapter 1: Closing the Nature Gap
Chapter 2: Historical Foundations of the Nature Gap
Chapter 3: Rethinking Access and Inclusion
Chapter 4: Black and POC Voices
Chapter 5: Indigenous Voices
Chapter 6: LGBTQIA+ Voices
Chapter 7: People with Disabilities Voices
Chapter 8: Neurodivergent Voices
Chapter 9: International Voices
Chapter 10: Inclusive Movements
Chapter 11: Allyship in Academia and the Workplace
Chapter 12: Privilege and Positionality
Foreword and Publisher
Foreword by Dr. J. Drew Lanham
Dr. J. Drew Lanham — MacArthur Fellow, author, ornithologists, and cultural commentator — opens the book with a powerful reflection on belonging, identity, and the stakes of inclusion in science and nature. His foreword grounds the volume in both deep personal resonance and urgent cultural relevance.
Visit JHU’s website
Support this Project
Inclusive Nature is more than a book — it’s a platform for justice, representation, and change in the environmental and scientific fields.
We’re currently seeking mission-aligned sponsors and partners to help bring this work to life and ensure it reaches the communities and institutions where it can make the most impact.
Why your support Matters
Your sponsorship helps us:
- Provide equitable compensation to contributors
- Support professional editing, design, and accessibility formatting
- Expand outreach through events, community partnerships, and educator toolkits
- Ensure that this work is not only published – but seen, taught, and acted upon
What Sponsors receive:
- Recognition on the project website and in the published book
- Acknowledgement in launch materials, social media, and author events
- Optional: copies of the book, guest speaking invitations, or custom partnerships
- A lasting association with a transformative, equity-driven project
Whether you’re an organization, company, or individual who believes in reimagining science and nature for all-we’d love to talk with you.
Media and Events
Coming Soon
Stay tuned for media features, podcast interviews, launch events, and author conversations connected to Inclusive Nature. We’ll be updating this section with upcoming appearances, press coverage, and opportunities to connect with the editor and contributors.
Want to invite us to speak, teach, or collaborate? Get in touch.