There are several groups and networks that you can join to connect with other science engagement professionals who have an interest in community science practice.
ASTC’s Community Science Network of Practitioners
ASTC’s Community Science Network of Practitioners offers multiple ways for you to get involved with our Community Science Initiative, meet other community science practitioners, discuss what you’re working on, and collaborate to take your Community Science efforts to the next level!
Stay in the Loop
Sign up for our email list to stay connected to ASTC’s Community Science Initiative and learn about new resources and upcoming community science activities, including clinics, webinars and more.
Community Science Clinics
Join our Community Science Clinics, bi-monthly virtual events for community science practitioners at all levels of experience to talk with their peers and seek advice from colleagues working on community science efforts. Each clinic will focus on a different theme, be grounded by short “discussion sparks”, and use smaller breakouts to further discussion. Our next clinic is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, 2023 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm Eastern.
Online Community of Practice
Join our free online community of practice to host discussions, share resources, and connect with other science engagement professionals interested in community science. You do not need to be an ASTC member to participate.
Public Lab
Public Lab is a platform for community science practitioners working on environmental issues to document their work, share tools for environmental monitoring and advocacy, and connect with each other. The Public Lab community is open and free for anyone to join, and Public Lab community members can add their own project page to document their methods and share expertise with others. Public Lab also hosts regular engagement events to discuss environmental issues, hear presentations on research, discuss advocacy methodology, and develop resources together. Learn more and join.
Thriving Earth Exchange
The American Geophysical Union’s Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX) program supports community science by helping match communities with resources, project managers, and experts to address their pressing concerns. AGU’s Community Science Fellowship Program supports community science practitioners in working collaboratively to address community priorities. You can read reports from a variety of current and completed TEX Projects. You can also explore their Community Science Exchange, where you can read and submit project descriptions, resources, news, and other items. You can also sign up for their Seminar on Creating Justice, Trust, and Inclusivity in Climate Policymaking, which will take place on Friday, October 7 from 9-10 am Eastern Time.
National Coalition for Dialogue & Deliberation
The National Coalition for Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD), a membership network of more than 700 individuals and organizations, works to help communities have more productive dialogues in order to tackle today’s most pressing challenges. Founded in 2002 as a coalition of 50 organizations, NCDD was created to address the clear need for collaboration and learning about Dialogue & Deliberation among practitioners across different disciplines. The resulting organization and Community of Practice continues to work across four main categories to this day: 1) maintaining a resource and news clearinghouse; 2) developing new resources to educate the public and Dialogue & Deliberation community about Dialogue & Deliberation work; 3) developing a vibrant community of practice; and 4) serving as a facilitative leader and convener in the community.
North American Association of Environmental Education
NAAEE’s mission is to accelerate environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a more sustainable future. Anyone can join eePRO—NAAEE’s free online global community of environmental education (EE) professionals—where you can connect with others, discuss specific topics in Groups pages, participate in professional development opportunities, and find and post resources, events, and jobs. NAAEE has a number of offerings that may be of interest to community science practitioners, such as their Environmental Issues Forums and their ee360 initiative, which produced the Community Engagement Guidelines for Excellence and also hosts the Civics and Environmental Change Fellowship.
National Informal STEM Education Network
The National Informal STEM Education Network—or the NISE Network—is a community of thousands of informal science educators and scientists across the U.S. who share resources, ideas, and experiences with each other. The NISE Network has long been active in developing models for engaging the public in current science and technology topics, and has spearheaded design and research around public forums and science cafes. Two initiatives of note include Building with Biology and Citizen Science, Civics, and Resilient Communities. Anyone who takes part in NISE Network activities and uses their free resources is considered part of the network! NISE Network project teams create resources and coordinate activities nationally and regionally, while partner organizations implement project activities locally, generating new ideas and learning. Learn how to get involved.
