Non-traditional Areas for IPM Careers and the Associated Challenges for 2SLGBTQIA+ Individuals in Pursuing Them

This talk presents two related perspectives. The first perspective is on the fruitful opportunities for integrated pest management (IPM) in the wide world of green industry careers. This will be informed by and focus on my experiences in both public horticulture and the medical Cannabis industry, two sectors not always addressed when IPM careers are discussed.

The second perspective is on how IPM (and many other) career options are at best limited and at worst completely unavailable to some members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community such as myself. Many of the available career options present major sociological, psychological, and physical safety barriers to my community, often stemming from geographic location, history, and local or state political realities. I will share my personal view and experience on this with the positive intent of helping the wider field to initially understand and ultimately address these issues.