Please note the application deadline has been extended to March 8 2022!
Ready to Apply? Jump to application form.
Thriving Earth Exchange is pleased to partner with the University of Wisconsin’s UniverCity Alliance and EPIC-Network to launch a cohort of community science projects in Wisconsin. UW, EPIC-N and AGU share interests, value the principles of community science, and prioritize furthering the practice of sustainability. The partnership will connect Wisconsin communities with scientists and technical experts and support them as they work together to tackle local challenges related to natural hazards, natural resources and climate change.
Click here to read a Q&A: UniverCity Year Program Manager Shelly Strom reflects on time as a Community Science Fellow
Call for Community Science Fellow Applications
Wisconsin-based volunteers who are passionate about community science are invited to apply for our April Community Science Fellowship cohort. Community Science Fellows are committed volunteers who facilitate and lead collaborative, co-developed community science projects that have on-the-ground impact in local communities. They can have any background, experience level, or location. Successful Fellows are organized and proactive, have a general knowledge of Earth science, value community science and are committed to engaging with their community and scientific partners for the duration of the project. If this sounds like you, join us!
Volunteers selected as Community Science Fellows will receive training, mentorship and support from AGU’s Thriving Earth Exchange. Click here for information about onboarding, training and engagement after project launch.
Timeline
December 2021 – Applications open.
*Deadline Extended to March 8, 2022*– Application Deadline for both Community Science Fellows and Communities
- Beginning in late February, selected Fellow applicants will be contacted for interviews. Communities will be contacted by Thriving Earth Exchange staff to confirm alignment with program.
April 27-28 (12:00-5:00 PM EST) – Mandatory orientation for Community Science Fellows.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who may apply to be a Community Science Fellow?
This Community Science Fellowship is open to all Wisconsin-based volunteers with an interest in community science and managing scientific projects led by Wisconsin communities. For details about the Community Science Fellow program and qualities Thriving Earth Exchange looks for in Fellows, please click here.
Can you share some examples of what a community science projectlooks like?
Of course. While every community and every project is different, and projects must be developed in response to community priorities, we’re happy to offer some case studies.
- For a deep dive into a successful community science project, check out this story on a Thriving Earth project in Glastonbury, CT.
- Case study – Spending smart on environmental health, and seeking environmental justice: In early 2016, the city of Evanston, IL settled a lawsuit with a waste transfer station, receiving 1.26 million in cash funds. The facility spurred decades of complaints and health and environmental concerns from neighboring residents, who historically have been predominantly African American. The city and residents needed to determine how to allocate the funds to effectively monitor, evaluate and mitigate the negative impacts of the facility on the surrounding neighborhood. The city sought technical assistance through Thriving Earth, and the project team delivered a sampling plan and equipment recommendations, helping Evanston take smart action for its residents’ health.
- Case study – Mapping Heat Vulnerability and Community Health: Summers in Missoula, Montana are getting longer and hotter, and wildfire smoke is becoming more prevalent. Heat and poor air quality are disproportionately affecting the health of people with low incomes, children and the elderly. The city decided to launch a Thriving Earth project to pinpoint heat-vulnerable areas, and plan strategies for urban greening and cooling approaches in those areas. The team gathered demographic and GIS information to create a digital story map, and the data will be used in Missoula’s future climate adaptation planning.
Who’s Involved
UniverCity Alliance (UCA) serves as a front door for local governments interested in making their communities places together. Nearly all UW schools and colleges are involved. We connect education, service and research activities across the university with local governments through our UniverCity Year partnership. UCY is a three-year-long partnership between UW-Madison and local governments in Wisconsin where community partners identify projects that would benefit from UW-Madison expertise and receive deliverables that help them solve the issues. UniverCity Year is a member of the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities Network (EPIC-N, epicn.org), a national network of more than 30 educational institutions partnering with cities throughout the United States and world.
The Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities – Network (EPIC-N) is a nonprofit association with members all over the world. Our organization and our members unite the human capital of universities with local governments, and communities, to improve the quality of life and social wealth for all involved. This happens through application of The EPIC Model – an approach that fits the complicated structures of city governments and universities together for action and impact.
Other questions?
For inquiries related to the Thriving Earth Exchange–University of Wisconsin partnership or Community Science Fellowship opportunity, contact:
- Maria Sharova, Community Science Fellows program coordinator, AGU Thriving Earth Exchange ([email protected]) or
- Shelly Strom, University of Wisconsin-Madison UniverCity Year ([email protected])
Communities should direct questions to Blake McGhghy, program manager of community engagement, AGU Thriving Earth Exchange ([email protected]).
